Sun Returns, Clean-Up Continues After Tuesday's Winter Weather Outburst
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Tuesday's winter storm that made for a sloppy mix of rain, hail, snow and even tornadoes has now moved south out of California, but the effects lingered with snow school closures and delays for road clean-ups Wednesday.
Some of the highlights from this blast of winter weather:
- Valley rain totals ranged between .20 and .40 of an inch.
- Small hail and ice pellets – or graupel – were reported in Davis, Sacramento and even covered the ground in Oroville Tuesday afternoon and evening.
- Two confirmed tornadoes were reported in Tehama County, including an EF0 that touched down near the town of Gerber, damaging a large barn with its 74 mph winds. No one was injured.
- Low snow fell in the foothills, falling at elevations as low as 1,100 feet and 1,200 in Jackson and in Cameron Park. Snow totals of 4-8.5 inches were recorded at elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 feet.
Sean Bennett Reports From Sierra
The sun was bright, attitudes were positive and conditions were prime for skiers and snowboarders up in the Sierra on Wednesday.
"It's a whole different thing skiing as opposed to hanging around the cabin while getting snow dumped on you," Erik Zimmerman said.
Amy Flynn woke up at 5:30 Wednesday morning promising her son fresh powder.
"It is so beautiful up here," she said. "You have to get up here and see the snow and the trees. It is gorgeous."
"Should be a good day of skiing," Tyler McFarland said.
Andrea Menniti Reports From Sonora
All in all it was good conditions going up and over Donner Summit on Wednesday morning. There was no chain control in effect, just motorists dealing with icy conditions.
Laura Skirde's Forecast
Weather also spawned tornadoes in Tehema County. Some viewers grabbed video of a twister near Chico, but there was a much more rare sight Tuesday, a gustnado.
Ian Schwartz Explains A Gustnado
The biggest difference between a tornado and a gustnado is that gustnadoes start from the ground and reach to the sky, because of wind spiraling at the surface.
A tornado, on the other hand, starts in the sky and moves down to the ground. Meteorologists say though much smaller, gustnadoes can still be dangerous.
While the sun is back, it will still be chilly and gusty across the valley. Northwest winds will blow at 10-20 mph, with gusts nearing 30 mph at times during the afternoon. High temperatures will be limited to the mid-upper 50s.
We're bracing for another very cold night Wednesday, with morning fog and frost possible Thursday as low overnight temperatures dip to freezing in the Sacramento area.
Clear and quiet weather continues Thursday afternoon and Friday, with sunshine and high temperatures around 60 degrees.
