Repetitive low pressure systems moved into California on the 11th, 13th and 15th, as short-wave impulses rotated around an upper-level low off the northern California coast. The last of these troughs had a strong cold front that brought near-hurricane force winds to the Tehachapi Mountains during the night of February 15th-16th. A sustained wind speed of 74 mph was measured by the Grapevine Peak RAWS (remote automated weather station) at 10:13 PM PST on the 15th. (Hurricane sustained winds begin at 75 mph). Two hours later, the same RAWS recorded a gust to 103 mph. The wind sensor actually stopped providing wind data briefly after the gust to 103 mph, so there is a chance that the communications of the system briefly failed and maximum wind gusts might have been even higher if they were able to have been recorded. These gusty winds spread over the San Joaquin Valley and the Southern Sierra Nevada during the early morning hours. At 4:05 AM PST, the Panoche Road RAWS on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley measured a gust to 51 mph, and the Miami RAWS, in the Sierra in Madera County, saw a gust to 48 mph.
The low off the northern California coast drew a deep fetch of moisture into the state. As the cold air behind this strong front spread into the Tehachapi Mountains, rain changed to snow with falling snow levels. Interstate 5 through Tejon Pass was closed as the snow level fell below 4000 feet and snow began accumulating on the summit of Tejon Pass. This storm brought snow accumulations that ranged from 2-3 feet near Yosemite and Kings Canyon down to 0.5-1 foot in the Kern County mountains.

Funnel Cloud in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-09 11:45:00 to 16-FEB-09 11:45:00 (PST-8)
Location: BUTTONWILLOW
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A California Highway Patrol reported a funnel cloud near Buttonwillow.

Funnel Cloud in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 13-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 13-FEB-09 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: CHOWCHILLA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported a funnel cloud near the city of Chowchilla. The report was relayed by local broadcast media.

Strong Wind in W CENTRAL S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 15-FEB-09 13:21:00 to 16-FEB-09 11:05:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 13-FEB-09 04:00:00 to 13-FEB-09 20:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-09 04:00:00 to 17-FEB-09 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Wind in SE S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 15-FEB-09 12:33:00 to 16-FEB-09 00:18:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 15-FEB-09 08:13:00 to 16-FEB-09 05:13:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 90.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SW S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 15-FEB-09 10:50:00 to 16-FEB-09 11:05:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong Wind in S SIERRA FOOTHILLS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-09 04:59:00 to 16-FEB-09 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 42.00 MG
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 11-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 11-FEB-09 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in S SIERRA FOOTHILLS, CALIFORNIA
From 13-FEB-09 04:00:00 to 13-FEB-09 20:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-09 06:00:00 to 17-FEB-09 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-09 06:00:00 to 17-FEB-09 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter