A cold front that was associated with an upper trough which pushed through California on January 16 crossed central CA during the afternoon and evening hours, and provided much of the area with 6 to 8 hours of precipitation. Much of the San Joaquin Valley picked up between a quarter and a half inch of rainfall while several locations in the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills picked up between a half inch and an inch of liquid precipitation. The precipitation fell mainly as snow above 4000 feet where several locations picked up between 5 and 10 inches of new snowfall while a few stations picked up as much as 14 inches. Between a quarter to half an inch of liquid precipitation also fell across the Kern County Mountains, but the snow levels were a bit higher (4500 to 5000 feet), and the major passes remained open although several roads in the Tehachapi area were closed overnight for accumulating snow and ice. Strong winds accompanied the cold front in the south end of the San Joaquin Valley and along the ridge tops and below the passes in the Kern County Mountains and Deserts. There were a few reports of minor wind damage from fallen trees and several locations measured gusts exceeding 40 mph while some low impact indicator sites briefly measured gusts exceeding 70 mph before the winds diminished by daybreak on January 17.

Heavy Snow in NORTH KINGS RIVER, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 12:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Blackcap Basin SNOTEL (10300 feet) picked up an estimated 14 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in NORTH KINGS RIVER, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 12:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The State Lakes SNOTEL (10300 feet) picked up an estimated 14 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 12:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Lower Kibbie Ridge SNOTEL (6700 feet) picked up an estimated 10 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 12:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Poison Ridge SNOTEL (6900 feet) picked up an estimated 10 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in SEQUOIA KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 12:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Grant Grove (6572 feet) measured 11 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in SEQUOIA KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 12:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lodgepole (6690 feet) measured 9 inches of new snow.

High Wind in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-20 02:27:00 to 17-JAN-20 02:27:00 (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 17-JAN-20 00:14:00 to 17-JAN-20 00:14:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 71 mph.

High Wind in LAKE ISABELLA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 23:32:00 to 16-JAN-20 23:32:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 76.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 88 mph.

High Wind in LAKE ISABELLA, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-20 04:10:00 to 17-JAN-20 04:10:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Bear Peak RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 71 mph.

High Wind in INDIAN WELLS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 22:26:00 to 16-JAN-20 22:26:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 71.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 82 mph.

High Wind in CENTRAL SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 14:00:00 to 16-JAN-20 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Crane Flat RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.

Strong Wind in BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 17:30:00 to 16-JAN-20 17:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a tree blocking the roadway 4 WSW Bakersfield.

Strong Wind in BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 17:42:00 to 16-JAN-20 17:42:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a tree blocking the roadway 3 ENE Bakersfield.

High Wind in INDIAN WELLS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-20 22:32:00 to 16-JAN-20 22:32:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a semi-truck was blown over at the SR 14/US 395 split.

Winter Storm in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-20 00:00:00 to 17-JAN-20 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Kern County Emergency Manager reported several roads were closed in the Tehachapi area due to snow and ice accumulation.