California, 1996

High Wind in California, December 17 to 18, 1996

December 17 to 18, 1996 · NWS SGX · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

Gusty Santa Ana winds redeveloped across parts of Southern California resulting in spotty reports of downed trees and power poles. In Rancho Cucamonga, winds toppled a 500,000 kilovolt electric tower, sparking a fire that burned 250 acres, forcing the evacuation of 80 homes.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS SGX wrote it up.

Gusty Santa Ana winds redeveloped across parts of Southern California resulting in spotty reports of downed trees and power poles. In Rancho Cucamonga, winds toppled a 500,000 kilovolt electric tower, sparking a fire that burned 250 acres, forcing the evacuation of 80 homes. Elsewhere across the four county area, downed trees and power poles resulted in minor damage and power outages to thousands of homes and businesses.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Orange County Coastal Areas

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
Orange County Coastal Areas forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)

High Wind, San Diego County Coastal Areas

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
San Diego County Coastal Areas forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)

High Wind, San Diego County Valleys

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, San Bernardino County Mountains

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Riverside County Mountains

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
Riverside County Mountains forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When
December 17, 3:00 PM PST to December 18, 12:00 PM PST
Where
San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 1996

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: 5576445, 5576878, 5576879, 5576880, 5576881, 5576882, 5576883, 5576884, 5576885.