California, 1999

High Wind in California, December 10 to 11, 1999

December 10 to 11, 1999 · NWS SGX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Power lines, traffic signs, and outdoor Christmas decorations were blown down, a semi-tractor trailer overturned; blowing dust and sand caused poor visibilities and forced road closures and the cancellation of outdoor events. Several trees were knocked over and broken tree limbs littered roadways.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
1
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Events
4

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.

Power lines, traffic signs, and outdoor Christmas decorations were blown down, a semi-tractor trailer overturned; blowing dust and sand caused poor visibilities and forced road closures and the cancellation of outdoor events. Several trees were knocked over and broken tree limbs littered roadways.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When
December 10, 11:00 PM PST to December 11, 1:00 PM PST
Where
Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, San Bernardino County Valley/The Inland Empire

When
December 11, 1:22 AM PST to 10:00 AM PST
Where
San Bernardino County Valley/The Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire

When
December 11, 7:00 AM PST to 11:00 AM PST
Where
Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire forecast zone
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER

High Wind, Coachella Valley

When
December 11, 8:35 AM PST to 11:35 AM PST
Where
Coachella Valley forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.744, -115.994 (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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 1999

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: 5723230, 5723231, 5723232, 5723233.