High Wind and Strong Wind in California, November 30, 1998

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in California, November 30, 1998
Start: 1998-11-30T02:00
End: 1998-11-30T07:00
Location: California

November 30, 1998 · NWS EKA · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Widespread power outages due to lines downed in high winds. Peak speed was 77 knots (89 mph) measured on Cooskie Mountain.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 EKA wrote it up.

Widespread power outages due to lines downed in high winds. Peak speed was 77 knots (89 mph) measured on Cooskie Mountain. Wind and Weather in the town of Mendocino recorded a peak gust of 59 knots (68 mph). The Point Arena Lighthouse C-MAN reached 45 knots (52 mph). Other spotters reported estimated winds up to 60 knots (70 mph) in Humboldt County.

Event by event

2 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Redwood Coast

When: November 30, 2:00 AM PST to 7:00 AM PST
Where: Redwood Coast forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

High Wind, Mendocino Coast

When: November 30, 2:00 AM PST to 7:00 AM PST
Where: Mendocino Coast forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

High Wind, North Coast Interior

When: November 30, 2:00 AM PST to 7:00 AM PST
Where: North Coast Interior forecast zone
Measured: 77 kt (89 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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, November 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: 5676198, 5676199, 5676200.