The new year (and decade) began with the latest in a series of Pacific storms that stretched back to December 17th, 2010. This storm brought strong, gusty winds to the region, especially to the base of the Grapevine, where gusts up to 89 mph were recorded on January 2nd. Snow fell on both the Grapevine and Tehachapi Pass, closing both routes between the San Joaquin Valley and southern California. Unlike the storms in December, this storm was focused more on Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties, Fresno recorded 1.51 inch of rain on January 1st-2nd, while Bakersfield only received 0.16 inch. This was a cold storm, with the snow level falling to around 2500 feet. With the San Joaquin Valley floor and the lower foothills saturated from the record rains of the latter half of December, flood watches were posted for the New Year���s Day holiday weekend.
As the night of January 1st-2nd progressed, wind gusts to 50 mph were recorded in the far south end of the San Joaquin Valley, at the base of the Grapevine. Over an inch of snow had fallen in Squirrel Valley--at 2700 feet in the hills above Lake Isabella--by 9:45 PM. The winds at the base of the Grapevine continued through the 2nd, with a peak wind of 89 mph recorded during the afternoon. Several roads on the San Joaquin Valley floor flooded due to runoff from locally heavy rains onto the saturated ground. In the Tehachapi Mountains, heavy snow closed Interstate 5 over the Grapevine (a total of 8 inches of snow fell at Lebec), and 52 cars were stuck on Highway 168 in the Southern Sierra Nevada at the 7000 foot level near Kaiser Point. Snow even fell in the Kern County deserts, with Ridgecrest reporting accumulating snow and snow falling at Edwards Air Force Base. The CHP reported numerous vehicles stuck on ice-covered southbound Hwy 395 just south of the junction with Hwy 178 and on northbound Hwy 395 just south of Ridgecrest Boulevard. A trained weather spotter in Ridgecrest measured 4 inches of new snow. The fire department in Mojave measured 4 inches. The fire department in California City measured 7 inches. The fire department in Randsburg measured 5 inches of the white stuff. The CHP reported vehicle stuck in the snow on Garlock Road just east of southbound Hwy 395.
The upper-level low moved south to off Point Conception on January 3rd. This kept a southerly flow over the Tehachapi Mountains, with advisory-level winds continuing at the base of the Grapevine. Although the precipitation had mostly ended, lingering runoff continued to create flooding hazards.

Flood in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 06:46:00 to 02-JAN-11 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: MADERA MUNI ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Water up to 3 feet deep on roads near Santa Lucia Drive and Manresa.

Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 02-JAN-11 11:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: STRATHMORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Local TV broadcasters reported flooding in the town of Strathmore.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: BAKERSFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 12.70M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Kern County estimated damage from the storms of December 17th to January 2nd at 12.7 million dollars.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: DELANO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 800.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Damage to Delano schools from the storms of December 17th to January 2nd estimated at 800,000 dollars.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 14:14:00 to 02-JAN-11 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: CLOVIS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

CHP reported water and mud flooding the slow lane of westbound State Route 168 just west of Bullard Road.

Flood in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 17:56:00 to 02-JAN-11 20:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: BORDEN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The CHP reported flooding on Avenue 13 at Road 30.

Flood in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 18:28:00 to 02-JAN-11 20:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: DAIRYLAND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The CHP reported flooding on Avenue 24 at Road 10.

Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 21:27:00 to 02-JAN-11 23:27:00 (PST-8)
Location: CAMP NELSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The CHP reported a mudslide on State Route 190 just west of  Pierpoint Drive.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 22:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 02:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: CLARKS CORNER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Local TV broadcaster reported flooding in the town of Orosi. Water was reported 1 foot deep.

Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 03-JAN-11 00:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: CINOWTHS CORNER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 4.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Four and a half (4.5) million dollars estimated damage to Tulare County roads from December 17th to Jjanuary 2nd storms.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 03-JAN-11 10:10:00 to 03-JAN-11 12:10:00 (PST-8)
Location: HURON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

CHP reported State Route 269 closed between State Route 198 and Huron due to flooding.

Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 03-JAN-11 10:12:00 to 03-JAN-11 12:12:00 (PST-8)
Location: STRATHMORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The CHP reported the Orange Belt Highway closed between Avenue 188 and Avenue 194 due to flooding.

Winter Storm in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 09:45:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 09:45:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 09:45:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in INDIAN WELLS VLY, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 09:45:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SE KERN CTY DESERT, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-11 09:45:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JAN-11 10:00:00 to 02-JAN-11 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 77.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet