California, 1998

Damaging Wind in California, December 6, 1998

December 6, 1998 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A line of strong thunderstorms moved across Orange County during the early morning hours of Dec. 6.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$450,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

A line of strong thunderstorms moved across Orange County during the early morning hours of Dec. 6. Numerous trees were blown, falling on houses, cars, and power lines. Shingles were ripped off roofs and fences, walls, and street signs blown over. Three houses were declared uninhabitable, 75 had minor damage, 11 automobiles were crushed, and power outages affected 18,200 customers. Communities affected included: Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmor, Cypress, Tustin, Santa Ana, and Garden Grove.

The radar

The Santa Ana Mts radar (KSOX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:24 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When
December 6, 4:24 AM PST to 4:30 AM PST
Where
Orange County, Garden Grove to 9 mi NW of Garden Grove
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage
$450,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.730, -118.070

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 1998

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: 5671264.