Wildfire and Dust Storm in California, December 9, 1998

Name: Wildfire and Dust Storm in California, December 9, 1998
Start: 1998-12-09T03:30
End: 1998-12-09T22:30
Location: California

December 9, 1998 · NWS SGX · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 24
Property damage: $1.1 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

The strongest Santa Ana wind event in two years affected the area, severely disrupting transportation, power, and daily activities. Broken trees and power poles were common throughout the area and power was knocked out to 180,000 customers. Downed power lines also started several wild fires, damaging one house. Seventeen trucks were blown over along Interstate 15 and Highway 60. Blowing dust forced the closure of the Ontario International Airport for several hours. Seven students were knocked down and injured at the California State University in San Bernardino. Trees also fell on two passing motorists in the Fontana area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind, 2 wildfire, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Ne Orange

When: December 9, 3:30 AM PST to 10:30 PM PST
Where: Ne Orange forecast zone
Measured: 81 kt (93 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, X Sw San Bernardino

When: December 9, 3:53 AM PST to 6:53 PM PST
Where: X Sw San Bernardino forecast zone
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph)
Injuries: 9 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, W/S Orange

When: December 9, 4:12 AM PST to 7:55 PM PST
Where: W/S Orange forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind, W Riverside T X Nw

When: December 9, 5:52 AM PST to 5:53 PM PST
Where: W Riverside T X Nw forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Injuries: 15 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Dust Storm, X Sw San Bernardino

When: December 9, 6:24 AM PST to 6:53 PM PST
Where: X Sw San Bernardino forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Riverside

When: December 9, 8:30 AM PST to 10:00 AM PST
Where: Riverside County, Riverside
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, X W San Diego Valley

When: December 9, 9:41 AM PST to 7:45 PM PST
Where: X W San Diego Valley forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Orange

When: December 9, 12:40 PM PST to 6:40 PM PST
Where: Orange County, Fountain Vly
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.677, -117.776 (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.
Dust Storm: Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5671268, 5671266, 5671269, 5671267, 5671272, 5671273, 5671271, 5671270.