California, 1999

Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in California, July 13, 1999

July 13, 1999 · NWS LOX · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

Strong thunderstorms produced heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous lightning across the Antelope Valley and the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. In Palmdale, lightning struck a steam-roller operator while strong thunderstorm winds snapped small trees.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
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.

Strong thunderstorms produced heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous lightning across the Antelope Valley and the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. In Palmdale, lightning struck a steam-roller operator while strong thunderstorm winds snapped small trees. Heavy rain resulted in many reports of flash flooding across the area. In the Antelope Valley, flash flooding was reported in both Palmdale and Lancaster. In northern Ventura County, flash flooding was reported in Quatal and Apache Canyons. In Santa Barbara County, flash flooding was reported across the Dick Smith Wilderness Area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Ventura

When
July 13, 11:10 AM PST to 2:45 PM PST
Where
Ventura County, North Portion
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
34.358, -119.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Santa Barbara

When
July 13, 1:28 PM PST to 3:15 PM PST
Where
Santa Barbara County, East Portion
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
34.538, -120.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Los Angeles

When
July 13, 2:05 PM PST to 2:55 PM PST
Where
Los Angeles County, Palmdale
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.198, -118.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Los Angeles

When
July 13, 2:30 PM PST
Where
Los Angeles County, Palmdale
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
34.198, -118.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Los Angeles

When
July 13, 5:06 PM PST to 5:55 PM PST
Where
Los Angeles County, Llano
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.198, -118.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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, July 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: 5706565, 5706566, 5706563, 5706561, 5706564.