A large cold upper low pressure area dropped southeast from the Gulf of Alaska to off the Pacific Northwest coast by the morning of March 1. Several bands of precipitation associated with this system pushed through Central California between the morning of March 1 and the afternoon of March 3. Significant rainfall impacted much of the area during this time frame with several reporting stations in the Southern Sierra Nevada from Fresno County northward picking up more than 2 inches of rainfall with a few locations picking up more than 5 inches of rain. Between 2 and 4 feet of snow fell over the higher elevations of the Southern Sierra Nevada from Fresno County northward during this 60 hour period while some light snowfall fell over the Kern County Mountains and Southern Sierra Foothills on March 3 as the snow level lowered to around 3000 feet.

Heavy Snow in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Big Meadows (7600 feet) picked up an estimated 37.2 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Tioga Pass (9972 feet) picked up an estimated 48.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The RAWS station at White Wolf (8038 feet) picked up an estimated 46.6 inches of new snowfall.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 02-MAR-18 19:09:00 to 02-MAR-18 20:09:00 (PST-8)
Location: CATHEYS VLY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported all lanes on a portion of Hunters Valley Road 12NNW Catheys Valley were blocked due to a mudslide.

Funnel Cloud in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 03-MAR-18 15:40:00 to 03-MAR-18 15:45:00 (PST-8)
Location: (VIS)VISALIA ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A funnel cloud was observed by several public observers near Goshen. The duration of the funnel was 5 minutes.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Ostrander Lake (8200 feet) picked up an estimated 37.9 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Tamarack Summit (7550 feet) picked up an estimated 40.5 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Agnew Pass (9450 feet) picked up an estimated 39.5 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Dana Meadows (9798 feet) picked up an estimated 25.6 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Wawona picked up an estimated 18.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Gin Flat picked up an estimated 46.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The SNOTEL at Volcanic Knob (10500 feet) picked up an estimated 32.3 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Poison Ridge (6900 feet) picked up an estimated 42.5 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL at Lower Kibbie Ridge (6700 feet) picked up an estimated 46.4 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 04:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Badger Pass ski resort (8000 feet) picked up an estimated 36.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Rain in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 08:00:00 to 02-MAR-18 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: ELLIOTT CORNER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotted measured 3.41 inches of liquid precipitation near Lush Meadows. 1.5 inches of new snow was measured after the precipitation changed from rain to snow.

Flood in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 21:45:00 to 01-MAR-18 22:45:00 (PST-8)
Location: BEAR VLY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a road closure at State Route 49 and Bear Valley Road as a result of mud, rock and dirt covering the intersection.