High Surf in California, January 28 to 31, 1998

Name: High Surf in California, January 28 to 31, 1998
Start: 1998-01-28T14:00
End: 1998-01-31T23:59
Location: California

January 28 to 31, 1998 · NWS LOX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

surf event of the month occurred. 10 to 15 foot surf with local sets to 20 feet was reported.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOX wrote it up.

The third...and most significant...surf event of the month occurred. Along the coasts of San Luis Obispo and western Santa Barbara counties...10 to 15 foot surf with local sets to 20 feet was reported. Along the Southern California coast...8 to 12 foot surf with local sets to 18 feet was reported. Across the Ventura county coast...twelve homes were damaged. Also...the Pacific Coast Highway...north of the city of Ventura...was closed.

Event by event

5 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, W Santa Barbara

When: January 28, 2:00 PM PST to January 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: W Santa Barbara forecast zone

High Surf, X S Santa Barbara

When: January 28, 2:00 PM PST to January 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: X S Santa Barbara forecast zone

High Surf, X S Ventura

When: January 28, 2:00 PM PST to January 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: X S Ventura forecast zone

High Surf, X Se Los Angeles

When: January 28, 2:00 PM PST to January 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: X Se Los Angeles forecast zone

High Surf, X W San Luis Obispo

When: January 28, 2:00 PM PST to January 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: X W San Luis Obispo forecast zone

What these are

High Surf: Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.

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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5627111, 5627112, 5627113, 5627114, 5627115.