California, 1998

Funnel Clouds and Waterspouts in California, March 31, 1998

March 31, 1998 · NWS SGX · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

Weak surface pressure gradients, and cool, unstable conditions in the wake of a major winter storm, set the stage for widespread funnel cloud and waterspout development off the Orange and northern San Diego County coasts during the morning hours. Law enforcement, lifeguards, and trained spotters reported at least 14 sightings of funnel clouds, at least two of which became waterspouts.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

Weak surface pressure gradients, and cool, unstable conditions in the wake of a major winter storm, set the stage for widespread funnel cloud and waterspout development off the Orange and northern San Diego County coasts during the morning hours. Law enforcement, lifeguards, and trained spotters reported at least 14 sightings of funnel clouds, at least two of which became waterspouts. One waterspout briefly hit the coast south of the Huntington Beach Pier but quickly dissipated near the Pacific Coast Highway without causing any damage.

The radar

The Santa Ana Mts radar (KSOX), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 funnel cloud, 2 waterspout. Local standard time, as filed.

Waterspout, Orange

When
March 31, 8:40 AM PST to 8:45 AM PST
Where
Orange County, 1 mi SW of Huntington Beach
Coordinates
33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Orange

When
March 31, 10:20 AM PST to 10:24 AM PST
Where
Orange County, 1 mi N of Huntington Beach
Coordinates
33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Orange

When
March 31, 10:34 AM PST to 10:38 AM PST
Where
Orange County, 3 mi SSW of El Toro McAs
Coordinates
33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Orange

When
March 31, 10:44 AM PST to 10:54 AM PST
Where
Orange County, 4 mi SSW of El Toro McAs
Coordinates
33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Waterspout, San Diego

When
March 31, 11:00 AM PST to 11:10 AM PST
Where
San Diego County, 5 mi W of San Onofre
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Orange

When
March 31, 3:07 PM PST to 3:15 PM PST
Where
Orange County, 2 mi SE of Seal Beach
Coordinates
33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Waterspout
A tornado over water. One that moves ashore is filed as a tornado from the coastline on.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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, March 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: 5632173, 5632174, 5632175, 5632176, 5632178, 5632177.