A powerful cold front moved across Central and Southern California in late February. Although the front did not produce significant rainfall, it did bring strong and gusty southeasterly winds to the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS LOX wrote it up.
A powerful cold front moved across Central and Southern California in late February. Although the front did not produce significant rainfall, it did bring strong and gusty southeasterly winds to the area. Wind gusts as high as 75 to 86 mph were reported in some areas. The strongest and most widespread winds occurred across the Central Coast as well as the mountains. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Los Angeles, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 2:36 PM PST, 24 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 236 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2008 .SHORT TERM...CENTER OF THE 975MB LOW WAS POSITIONED 550 MILES NORTHWEST OF POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOUNDING OVER AREA WAS BECOMING SATURATED WHILE MODERATE ASCENDING SOUTHWEST FLOW ACCELERATED BETWEEN THE CWA AND LOW CENTER. SURFACE BOUNDARY WAS ACCELERATING EAST AROUND 30 KT AND CURRENT POSITION AND SPEED THE BOUNDARY WILL MOVE ASHORE NORTH OF POINT CONCEPTION AROUND SUNSET. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE STORM FORCE WINDS WILL DECELERATE. HAVE MOVED THE ENDING TIME TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS TO 4 AM AND HAVE LEFT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND DESERT UNCHANGED. STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL LIKELY BECOME MODERATE LATE TONIGHT WHILE THE SURFACE LOW FILLS AND APPROACHES THE BAY AREA...THOUGH 70 KT GUSTS WILL PERSIST OVER THE HIGH COUNTRY AS 120KT JET...FARTHER UPSTREAM THIS AFTERNOON...MOVES ASHORE LATE SUN MORNING. LITTLE CHANGE IN QPF MAINLY IN TIMING AND HAVE MOVED UP THE HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING SOUTH OF POINT CONCEPTION TO EARLY IN THE EVENING. HAVE INCREASED POPS TO CATEGORICAL OVER THE ENTIRE AREA SUNDAY AND WIDESPREAD SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AT 5.5KFT MAY EXCEED ADVISORY THRESHOLDS. ALSO INCLUDED CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS NORTH OF POINT CONCEPTION AND SLIGHT CHANCE SOUTH SUNDAY...INSTABILITY IS MARGINAL AND EXPECT STEEPER LAPSE RATES FARTHER NORTH. HAVE INCREASED POPS SUNDAY NIGHT WAS WELL AS STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW SQUEEZES OUT THE LINGERING MOISTURE. MADE MINOR CHANGES THEREAFTER. WILL CONTINUE WITH WARMING TREND. TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY WARM TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS TUE WHILE A LONG WAVE RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. .LONG TERM...WILL CONTINUE DRY THROUGH THE PERIOD AND MADE A MINOR CHANGE. TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY PERSIST ABOVE NORMAL THOUGH HAVE INDICATED A COOLING TREND SAT WHILE THE LONG WAVE RIDGE WEAKENS AND ALLOWS A COOLER AIR MASS TO ADVANCE SOUTH. && .AVIATION...23/1800Z. VFR CATS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...BEFORE THE FRONTAL PRECIP PUSHES INTO SLO COUNTY. RAIN SHOULD BEGIN AROUND 23Z AT KPRB...THEN PUSH QUICKLY DOWN TO KLAX BY AROUND 07Z TO 09Z. ONCE RAIN BEGINS...NOT EXPECTING MUCH OF A LET UP THROUGH 18Z SUN...BUT FLIGHT CATS WILL VARY. HEAVIEST RAIN SHOULD ISSUE IN IFR CATS WITH CIGS BLW 010 AND VIS BLW 2SM...BUT COULD BRIEFLY TOUCH LIFR... ESPECIALLY NORTH OF PT CONCEPTION...AND AT KBUR AND KVNY. STRONG S TO SE WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED...AND CANNOT RULE OUT LLWS CONCERNS... ESPECIALLY JUST AHEAD AND BEHIND THE MAIN FRONTAL BAND. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUN AFTER 12Z. FREEZING LEVEL...SHOULD REMAIN ABOVE 7000 THROUGH 12Z. KPMD MAY RECEIVE PERIODS OF GUSTS ABOVE 40 KT AFTER 14Z DUE TO WAVE ACTIVITY. KLAX...VFR WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...THEN GO IFR/MVFR WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRONT AT AROUND 07Z. WINDS WILL REMAIN E TO SE THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HRS...AND NOT EXPECTING A WESTERLY COMPONENT AT ALL TODAY. WINDS WILL GUSTS ABOVE 20 KT AFTER ABOUT 07Z...AND LLWS MAY BE A CONCERN. .KBUR...VFR WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...THEN GO IFR/MVFR WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRONT AT AROUND 07Z. LIFR IS POSSIBLE UNDER THE HEAVIEST RAIN...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 08Z AND 14Z. SE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH PERIOD...BUT WILL BECOME GUSTY AFTER AROUND 07Z...AND LLWS MAY BE A CONCERN. && .MARINE...STRONG SE WINDS HAVE RESULTED IN STORM AND GALE WARNINGS IN EFFECT...AS WELL AS SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES. STRONGEST WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 50 KT ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN 1PM AND 9PM THIS EVENING NORTH OF POINT CONCEPTION. THE FOCUS THEN TURNS TO A VERY LARGE WESTERLY SWELL THAT MOVES INTO THE COASTAL WATERS ON SUNDAY AND CONTINUES THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY. SWELL HEIGHTS WILL PEAK BETWEEN 20 AND 25 FEET ACROSS THE OUTER WATERS...AND BETWEEN 12 AND 20 FEET ACROSS THE INNER WATERS. THIS LARGE SWELL WILL PRODUCE VERY HIGH SURF ALONG WEST FACING BEACHES. ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST...SURF OF 15-20 FEET WITH LOCAL SETS TO 25 FEET ARE POSSIBLE...WHILE HEIGHTS OF 10-15 FEET WITH LOCAL SETS TO 18 FEET ARE POSSIBLE TO THE SOUTH. PLEASE REFER TO LAXMWSLOX AND LAXCFWLOX FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT THE WINDS/SWELL AND SURF. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). FLASH FLOOD WATCH (SEE LAXFFALOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). HIGH SURF ADVISORY (SEE LAXCFWLOX). SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY (SEE LAXCWFLOX). STORM WARNING (SEE LAXMWSLOX). GALE WARNING (SEE LAXMWSLOX). && PUBLIC...30 AVIATION...KITTELL WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
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
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An automated sensor at Point Arguello reported southeast winds gusting to 63 mph. In the nearby community of Cambria, numerous trees and power lines were knocked down by the winds.
An automated sensor at Atascadero reported southeast winds gusting to 59 mph.
An automated sensor in the West Cuyama Valley reported sustained southeast winds of 40 mph.
An automated sensor in the hills of Vandenberg Air Force Base reported southeast winds gusting to 86 mph around the 2000 foot elevation.
Strong southeast winds gusting to 75 mph were reported in the mountains of San Luis Obispo county.
An automated sensor at Vandenberg Hills reported southeast winds gusting to 61 mph.
Automated sensors in the mountains of Los Angeles county reported southeast to south winds gusting to 64 mph.
Automated sensors in the mountains of Ventura county reported southeast to south winds gusting to 64 mph.
An automated sensor at Valyermo reported south to southwest winds gusting to 73 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2008
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: 77896, 77898, 77899, 77900, 77901, 77897, 77903, 77904, 77902.