Tornado and Heavy Snow in California, May 12 to 13, 1998

An unusually cold, late season storm system pushed a cold front through southern California, resulting in unseasonably cold conditions, and heavy snow in the mountains. The snow began falling around noon on the twelfth and continued off and on through the thirteenth. Thunder and lightning accompanied some of the heavier ice-pellet and snow showers, and the weight of the snow snapped tree branches, resulting in isolated power outages. Snow was reported as low as 4000 feet, with heavy accumulations above 6000 feet. Reported amounts ranged from around six inches at 5800 feet, to two feet above 8000 feet. The heavy snow prompted the reopening of some ski resorts. For one resort, it was the first time in it's 74 year history that it had been open so late in the season. The cold weather made it particularly difficult for undocumented immigrants travelling through the Laguna Mountains where wind-swept rain and snow fell. One 29 year-old man died of hypothermia on Mount Laguna. Convection in the cold air produced thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours of rain and gusty winds over the Inland Empire. Reports of funnel clouds were received from pilots and observers near March Air Force Base, and Homeland. One of the funnel clouds apparently touched down as a weak tornado in the Highland Palms mobile home park in Homeland ripping awnings from several trailers. Also of note, the persistent evening rain on the twelfth caused the first rain-out of a San Diego Padres game at the stadium in Mission Valley in over 15 years.