An extended period of offshore winds affected Southern California. North to northeast wind gusts in excess of 65 MPH were reported in some areas.
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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.
An extended period of offshore winds affected Southern California. North to northeast wind gusts in excess of 65 MPH were reported in some areas. The strong winds, combined with very dry conditions, helped fuel two significant wildfires. The Tea Fire, near Montecito in Santa Barbara county, burned 1,940 acres. The Sayre Fire, north of Sylmar in Los Angeles county, burned 11,262 acres. Both fires produced significant loss of residences.
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 Nov 13, 3:45 PM PST, 15 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 345 PM PST THU NOV 13 2008 UPDATE FOR NEW AVIATION DISCUSSION .SHORT TERM (TODAY-SUN)...OFFSHORE FLOW WILL DOMINATE THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD TO THE NORTH THROUGH SATURDAY WITH OFFSHORE GRADIENTS CONTINUING TO INCREASE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. ALREADY STARTING TO GET SOME NORTHERLY WINDS THROUGH THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY TODAY AS WELL AS THE MOUNTAINS AND SRN SBA COUNTY. AS THE HIGH BUILDS INTO NEVADA FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST AND DEVELOP INTO A TRADITIONAL SANTA ANA WIND PATTERN. AS IS TYPICAL WITH THESE PATTERNS THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF VENTURA AND THE WESTERN HALF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTIES. ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY, DECIDED TO GO WITH THE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES STARTING FRIDAY MORNING AS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE CONSIDERABLY THROUGH THE DAY. WARNING LEVEL WINDS MAY HOLD OFF UNTIL LATE FRIDAY BUT THERE COULD BE SOME BRIEF STRONGER GUSTS EARLIER FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE A LITTLE TRICKY AS THE WARMING ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOWNSLOPE WINDS WILL BE BATTLING THE COLD AIR ADVECTION ALOFT. BUT BASED ON MOS GUIDANCE AND LOOKING BACK AT HISTORICAL RECORDS DURING EVENTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE IT APPEARS THAT HIGHS SHOULD TOP OUT AROUND 90 FOR THE COAST AND LOWER VALLEYS, DROPPING INTO THE 60S AND 70S INLAND. THIS IS A FEW DEGREES LOWER THAN EARLIER FORECASTS AND THE ZONES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. WINDS WILL BE DROPPING OFF SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH JUST SOME LOCALLY BREEZY CONDITIONS SUNDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURE TRENDS WILL VARY FROM SLIGHTLY COOLER AT THE COAST TO 5-8 DEGREES WARMER ACROSS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY AS COLD AIR EXITS AND GRADIENTS START TO TREND ONSHORE. .LONG TERM (MON-THU)...HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT REMAINS PRETTY WELL LOCKED IN PLACE THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE STARTING TO BREAK DOWN ON TUESDAY. CONTINUING ONSHORE TRENDS IN THE GRADIENTS WILL BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES AGAIN TO THE COAST AND VALLEYS BUT LITTLE CHANGE OR SLIGHTLY WARMER CONDITIONS EXPECTED FARTHER INLAND. COOLING EXPECTED ALL AREAS TUE-THU AS THE RIDGE FLATTENS OUT, BUT HIGHS SHOULD REMAIN AT LEAST AT OR ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS THROUGH WED. && .AVIATION...13/2340Z...HI CONFIDENCE VFR CONDITIONS WILL COVER NEARLY ALL TAF SITES THROUGH FRI. ONLY EXCEPTION IS KPRB WITH MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN LOW IFR CONDITIONS DEVELOPING THERE AFT ABOUT 11Z AND PERSISTING THRU 17Z. LLWS CONDITIONS AT TIMES WILL BE POSSIBLE THRU EARLY EVENING AT KSBP...AND OVERNIGHT FOR KSBA AND KVNY DUE TO NORTHERLY GUSTY CANYON WINDS. FOR KLAX...HI CONFIDENCE IN VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL THROUGH FRI EVENING. NO WIND ISSUES ALTHO WEAK NE WINDS NEAR 7 KNOTS WILL BE POSSIBLE 15Z TO 21Z. FOR KBUR...HI CONFIDENCE IN VFR CONDITIONS THRU FRI. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR TONIGHT OTHERWISE NO WIND ISSUES ARE EXPECTED. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). RED FLAG WARNING (SEE LAXRFWLOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY (SEE LAXMWWLOX). && PUBLIC...WOFFORD AVIATION...SIRARD WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 205 PM PST THU NOV 13 2008 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-141400- SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CENTRAL COAST- SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-SANTA YNEZ VALLEY- SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-CUYAMA VALLEY- SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST-VENTURA COUNTY COAST- LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES- VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS- SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA- SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS- SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS- LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE- ANTELOPE VALLEY-CATALINA ISLAND-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY- LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY- LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY- 205 PM PST THU NOV 13 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TODAY GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL AFFECT THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND SOUTH COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL SHIFT TO A MORE NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION BY FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY...SHIFTING THE FOCUS OF THE STRONGEST WINDS INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES...WITH GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE IN THE COASTAL AREAS AND NEARBY WATERS INCLUDING THE CHANNEL ISLANDS AND SANTA CATALINA ISLAND. THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY WARM AND VERY DRY WEATHER THROUGH SUNDAY...WITH GUSTY WINDS AT TIMES...WILL INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * RED FLAG WARNING...........SEE WWUS86 KLOX - RFWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. WOFFORD
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind, 4 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong and gusty northerly winds affected the Santa Ynez range in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported sustained winds between 40 and 55 MPH with gusts as high as 72 MPH.
Strong and gusty northerly winds affected the foothill areas south of the Santa Ynez range in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported sustained winds between 40 and 55 MPH with gusts as high as 72 MPH.
The Tea Fire burned 1,940 acres of land in the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains near the community of Montecito. The fire ignited when strong north winds, gusting to 72 mph, blew some embers from a bonfire started by several individuals. The winds spread the fire very quickly, consuming most of its acreage in one burn period. The fire destroyed approximately 210 residences and severely damaged 9 others. Westmont College in the foothills of Montecito experienced significant destruction, including the Physics building and numerous staff housing. Initial property damage estimates are not available at this time.
The Tea Fire burned 1,940 acres of land in the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains near the community of Montecito. The fire ignited when strong north winds, gusting to 72 mph, blew some embers from a bonfire started by several individuals. The winds spread the fire very quickly, consuming most of its acreage in one burn period. The fire destroyed approximately 210 residences and severely damaged 9 others. Westmont College in the foothills of Montecito experienced significant destruction, including the Physics building and numerous staff housing. Initial property damage estimates are not available at this time.
Gusty north to northeast winds affected the mountains of Los Angeles county. The RAWS sensor at Warm Springs reported north to northeast winds gusting to 60 MPH while the RAWS sensor at Chilao reported north to northeast winds gusts to 59 MPH.
Gusty north to northeast winds affected the mountains of Ventura county. North to northeast winds gusting to 60 MPH were reported.
Strong and gusty north to northeast wind affected the valleys of Ventura county. The RAWS sensor at Wiley Ridge reported a wind gust to 60 MPH.
The Sayre Fire burned 11,262 acres of land in the foothills of Los Angeles county near the community of Sylmar. The fire, started under unknown circumstances, was fueled by northeast winds gusting in excess of 60 MPH as well as very dry conditions. The Sayre Fire produced significant property damage. An estimated 487 residences were destroyed with the most significant damage occurring in a mobile home park. Initial property damage estimates are in excess of $3.5 million.
The Sayre Fire burned 11,262 acres of land in the foothills of Los Angeles county near the community of Sylmar. The fire, started under unknown circumstances, was fueled by northeast winds gusting in excess of 60 MPH as well as very dry conditions. The Sayre Fire produced significant property damage. An estimated 487 residences were destroyed with the most significant damage occurring in a mobile home park. Initial property damage estimates are in excess of $3.5 million.
Strong and gusty north to northeast wind affected the Santa Clarita Valley. The RAWS sensor at Newhall Pass reported a wind gust of 66 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, November 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: 141528, 141530, 141546, 141547, 141533, 141535, 141539, 141549, 141550, 141538.