Alert archive / California / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 23, NWS San Diego, CA

August 21, 2012San Diego County, California

NWS San Diego, CA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 21, 2012, 3:15 PM PDT for San Diego County, California. It was in force for 35 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 21, 2012, 3:15 PM PDT (22:15 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 2012, 3:50 PM PDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS San Diego, CA
Area
Storm-based polygon

County San Diego County, CA

The radar

The San Diego radar (KNKX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:18 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

San Diego, CA (KNKX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 84 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, San Diego, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, San Diego, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -7 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
899 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

594 
WUUS56 KSGX 212215
SVRSGX
CAC073-212300-
/O.NEW.KSGX.SV.W.0023.120821T2215Z-120821T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
315 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN DIEGO HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 400 PM PDT

* AT 306 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN         
  EXCESS OF 60 MPH. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE FROM THIS STORM.     
  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR AGUA CALIENTE SPRINGS...OR 19 MILES    
  SOUTH OF BORREGO SPRINGS...AND MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO      
  SHELTER VALLEY AND CANEBRAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE 
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...AND DEADLY CLOUD TO 
GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A 
SHELTER...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3320 11643 3311 11612 3284 11627 3290 11652
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 179DEG 13KT 3298 11636

$$

JJT
2 follow-up statements
344 
WWUS56 KSGX 212233
SVSSGX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
333 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

CAC073-212300-
/O.CON.KSGX.SV.W.0023.000000T0000Z-120821T2300Z/
SAN DIEGO CA-
333 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM PDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY...

AT 324 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF 
SHELTER VALLEY...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF BORREGO SPRINGS...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF THE INDICATED COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND 
LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! 
LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU 
CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3296 11650 3320 11643 3312 11614 3296 11621
      3294 11621 3289 11624
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 179DEG 13KT 3304 11636

$$

JJT
257 
WWUS56 KSGX 212250
SVSSGX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
350 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

CAC073-212257-
/O.CAN.KSGX.SV.W.0023.000000T0000Z-120821T2300Z/
SAN DIEGO CA-
350 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED THAT THE THUNDERSTORM IN THE WARNED AREA 
IS NO LONGER PRODUCING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...AND IS CONTINUING 
TO DISSIPATE. THEREFORE...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST 
CENTRAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3296 11650 3320 11643 3312 11614 3296 11621
      3294 11621 3289 11624
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 179DEG 13KT 3310 11636

$$

JJT

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 21, 2:05 PM PDT, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 2:05 PM PDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
205 PM AM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
THE COMBINATION OF MONSOON MOISTURE AND A TROUGH MOVING TOWARDS
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA HAVE MADE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THUNDERSTORMS
WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS THROUGH THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE COULD LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING...MAINLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERT AREAS.
THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING THROUGH
TONIGHT...SOME OF THESE MAY AFFECT THE COAST AND INLAND VALLEY
AREAS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE AGAIN POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY. A TROUGH
MOVING INLAND WILL BRING DRIER SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THURSDAY. THIS
WILL END THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT BUT ALSO DEEPEN THE MARINE LAYER.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REBUILD OVER THE AREA FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...

.REMAINDER OF TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY...
STRATUS CLOUDS PENETRATED MUCH FURTHER INLAND THIS MORNING THAN LAST
SEVERAL DAYS AND STILL HAVE NOT CLEARED THE SOUTHERN ORANGE COUNTY
AND NORTHERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTS. THIS WAS A RESULT OF A COASTAL
EDDY GENERATED BY THE MODERATE TO STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OVER THE
OFFSHORE WATERS. AT THE SAME TIME THE AIR MASS OVER LAND HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY MOIST AND CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE AS MONSOON MOISTURE
STREAMS NORTHWARD FROM MEXICO. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ARE NEAR OR
ABOVE 2 INCHES AND EXPECTED TO REMAIN SO THROUGH TONIGHT. DAYTIME
HEATING AND CONVERGING WINDS OVER THE MOUNTAINS HAVE RESULTED IN
MORE AND EARLIER THUNDERSTORM FORMATION TODAY COMPARED TO THE PAST
TWO DAYS. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS IS NOT EXPECTED TO END WITH
SUNSET...AS AN UPPER TROUGH LOCATED OFF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST
AND MOVING SLOWLY EASTWARD INTERACTS WITH THE UNSTABLE AIR MASS
TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...CREATING A THREAT OF
ELEVATED/NOCTURNAL CONVECTION TO ALL AREAS. DAYTIME HEATING ON
WEDNESDAY AND EVEN INTO THURSDAY SHOULD AGAIN FOCUS THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT OVER THE MOUNTAINS.

.THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY AUGUST 28...CONSENSUS OF MODELS
SHOW HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE REBUILDING ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY
THEN SHIFTING EAST SUNDAY AND MONDAY...THEN RIDGE FLATTENING ON
TUESDAY AS ZONAL FLOW/STORM TRACK DEVELOPS ALONG 40N LATITUDE. FOR
SW CALIFORNIA THIS SHOULD YIELD A WARMING AND DRYING TREND THROUGH
SATURDAY WITH A LOWERING MARINE LAYER...THEN A SLIGHT COOLING TREND
WITH DEEPER MARINE LAYER AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS THROUGH TUESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
212000Z...COAST/VALLEYS...VFR CONDS FORECAST THROUGH 04Z THIS
EVENING. STRATUS...WITH BASES AROUND 1100 FT MSL AND TOPS NEAR 2000
FT MSL...WILL QUICKLY DEVELOP CIGS ALONG THE COAST TONIGHT BTWN
03-06Z...AND PUSH AROUND 20 SM INLAND BY MID WED MORNING. CIGS MAY
DEVELOP OVER KCRQ AS EARLY AS 01Z. STRATUS WILL CLEAR TOWARD THE
COAST BTWN 17-18Z WED MORNING...AND HUG THE COAST THROUGHOUT THE DAY
WED.

MTNS/DESERTS...SCT-BKN CLOUDS LAYERED FROM 10K FT MSL TO 40K FT MSL
WITH ISOLATED/SCATTERED SHOWERS AND TSTMS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
REMAINDER OF THE TAF PERIOD. TSTMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG
UP/DOWNDRAFTS...GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND LOWERED VIS. AWAY FROM
SHOWERS/TSTMS...VFR CONDS FORECAST THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
IN REGARDS TO DRY LIGHTNING THREAT...THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
MOISTURE/PRECIPITABLE WATER GRADIENT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THAT REMAINS MORE OR LESS STATIONARY ALONG A NEWPORT BEACH TO
VICTORVILLE TO BARSTOW LINE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. WEST OF THIS LINE THE
AIR REMAINS RELATIVELY DRY BELOW 10000 FT MSL WITH PRECIPITABLE
WATER VALUES CLOSER TO ONE INCH...WHILE EAST OF THE LINE VALUES ARE
CLOSE TO TWO INCHES. FOR THOSE AREAS EAST OF THE LINE HEAVY WETTING
TRAINS ARE LIKELY TO ACCOMPANY MOST THUNDERSTORMS. WEST OF THE LINE
DRY LIGHTNING IS MORE LIKELY...AREAS OF CONCERN WOULD BE THE CHINO
HILLS ABOVE THE MARINE AIR INFLUENCE...THE FRONT COUNTRY WEST OF
INTERSTATE 15...THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS...AND THE HIGH DESERT
VALLEYS WEST OF INTERSTATE 15. FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL PLAIN
AND INLAND EMPIRE BELOW 1500 FEET...THE MARINE AIR INFLUENCE WITH
MODERATE OR BETTER HUMIDITY RECOVERY OVERNIGHT SHOULD SLOW FIRE
GROWTH FROM ANY LIGHTNING STRIKES OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCES.

&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR THE APPLE AND
     LUCERNE VALLEYS...COACHELLA VALLEY...RIVERSIDE COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN DIEGO
     COUNTY DESERTS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

PZ...NONE.

&&

PUBLIC/FIRE WEATHER...BALFOUR
SHORT TERM WARNINGS...HARRISON
AVIATION/MARINE...JJT
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 21, 10:25 AM PDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1025 AM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

CAZ055-056-058-060>062-220100-
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS-
COACHELLA VALLEY-SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS-
1025 AM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. THERE IS A
SLIGHT CHANCE THAT THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTINUE OVERNIGHT...MAINLY
ACROSS THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. THE FLASH
FLOOD POTENTIAL IS MODERATE TO HIGH. FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE
THROUGH THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
FOR THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN WEATHER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED FOR SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTY...RIVERSIDE COUNTY...AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY ACROSS THE
MOUNTAINS AND DESERT AREAS.

CAZ042-043-048-050-057-220100-
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS-
748 AM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT. THE FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL IS LOW. HOWEVER BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE AND MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING OF LOW
LYING URBAN AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY.
FOR THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN WEATHER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER
SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER.

BALFOUR

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 21, 2:45 PM PDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
245 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0215 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 SE RANCHITA           33.16N 116.47W
08/21/2012                   SAN DIEGO          CA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            AT 215 PM PDT BORREGO COUNTY ROAD MAINTENENCE CREW
            REPORTED WATER AND DEBREE FLOWING ACROSS SAN FELIPE ROAD
            JUST NORTH OF HIGHWAY 78 BETWEEN MILE MARKER 12 AND 14.

&&

JTHOMAS
Local storm report, Aug 21, 3:05 PM PDT, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
305 PM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0250 PM     FLOOD            9 ESE RANCHITA          33.14N 116.38W
08/21/2012                   SAN DIEGO          CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 TO 3 INCHES OF WATER FLOWING ALONG PART OF ROUTE 78 AND
            S3.

&&

ATARDY

The office that day

Everything else NWS San Diego, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 21, 7:39 AM PDTFlood WatchSGXRiverside, San Bernardino, San Diego88 min
Aug 21, 9:07 AM PDTFlash Flood WatchSGXRiverside, San Bernardino, San Diego11 hr
Aug 21, 1:50 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGXSan Diego40 min
Aug 21, 2:08 PM PDTFlash Flood WarningSGXSan Diego112 min
Aug 21, 2:47 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGXSan Diego28 min
Aug 21, 3:10 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisorySGXRiverside, San Diego2 hr
Aug 21, 3:12 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisorySGXSan Diego2 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in California, 2012Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.