Hail and Damaging Winds in California, February 18, 1993

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in California, February 18, 1993
Start: 1993-02-18T06:00
End: 1993-02-18T20:30
Location: California

February 18, 1993 · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Santa Barbara

When: February 18, 6:00 AM PST
Where: Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara
Coordinates: 34.538, -120.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intense thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rains, hit the Santa Barbara area. Many trees were uprooted and power lines downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Luis Obispo

When: February 18, 3:00 PM PST to 8:30 PM PST
Where: San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo and to Santa Barbara
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 35.387, -120.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Later the same day a thunderstorm caused damage to many of the same areas as winds to nearly 50 mph. Pea-sized hail was reported at Pismo Beach. Power outages due to lightning strikes were reported in Nipomo and San Luis Obispo. An observer in Solvang, Santa Barbara County, reported 135 separate lightning strikes during the storm. Portions of U.S. Highway 101 were closed due to flooding, mudslides, and hail on the road. A truck hydroplaned south of Buellton with no injuries reported. Elsewhere in Santa Barbara County secondary roads were also closed due to widespread minor flooding from the heavy rains.

Hail, Los Angeles

When: February 18, 4:55 PM PST
Where: Los Angeles County, San Fernando
Coordinates: 34.198, -118.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, San Bernardino

When: February 18, 6:30 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County, Crestline
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A line of intense thunderstorms moved into the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains. At Mt. Wilson upwards of 5.5 inches of rain fell in about 6 hours.

Thunderstorm Wind, Los Angeles

When: February 18, 6:30 PM PST
Where: Los Angeles County, Mt. Wilson
Measured: 93 kt (107 mph)
Coordinates: 34.198, -118.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

Every storm in California in 1993 Every state in 1993 This day in weather history Warnings in California, February 1993

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10316702, 10316691, 10316844, 10316629, 10316845.