A cold upper low pressure center dropped southeast out of the Gulf of Alaska on May 15 and moved into northern California on May 16. A strong cold front associated with this system crossed central California during the afternoon and evening of May 16 which produced significant precipitation across the area. Several stations in the Sierra Nevada range above 6000 feet from Yosemite Park southward picked up between 6 and 12 inches of new snow. Below 6000 feet, much of the central Sierra and adjacent foothills picked up between 1 and 2 inches of rainfall while Sequoia Park area generally picked up between 0.75 and 1.5 inches of rain. Between a half inch and an inch of rain fell in the Merced and Fresno areas while several other stations in the San Joaquin Valley picked up between a quarter and a half inch of rain. In addition to the precipitation, strong winds impacted the Kern County Mountains near Tehachapi and Lake Isabella between the afternoon of May 16 and the morning of May 17. Several stations measured gusts above 45 mph and a few low impact indicator sites reported gusts above 60 mph.

Funnel Cloud in KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-19 10:34:00 to 16-MAY-19 10:39:00 (PST-8)
Location: KETTLEMAN CITY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Reports on social media from a storm chaser with pictures of a funnel cloud near Kettlemen City.

High Wind in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-19 19:27:00 to 16-MAY-19 19:27:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 80 mph.

High Wind in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-19 13:32:00 to 16-MAY-19 13:32:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph.

High Wind in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-19 14:14:00 to 16-MAY-19 14:14:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-19 23:00:00 to 16-MAY-19 23:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Green Mountain SNOTEL (7900 feet) picked up an estimated 6.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-19 23:00:00 to 16-MAY-19 23:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Gin Flat SNOTEL (7050 feet) picked up an estimated 7.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in NORTH KINGS RIVER, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-19 23:00:00 to 16-MAY-19 23:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Volcanic Knob SNOTEL (10050 feet) picked up an estimated 8.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-19 23:00:00 to 16-MAY-19 23:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Ostrander Lake SNOTEL (8264 feet) picked up an estimated 9.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in SEQUOIA KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-19 23:00:00 to 16-MAY-19 23:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Charlotte Lake SNOTEL (10400 feet) picked up an estimated 6.0 inches of new snowfall.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-19 23:00:00 to 16-MAY-19 23:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The White Wolf RAWS (8000 feet) picked up an estimated 11.0 inches of new snowfall.