During the third week of January, a 180 to 210 kt jet stretched across the Pacific and into Southern California, bringing a series of powerful winter storms to the region. The first storm made its way through the region on January 18th.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 SGX wrote it up.
During the third week of January, a 180 to 210 kt jet stretched across the Pacific and into Southern California, bringing a series of powerful winter storms to the region. The first storm made its way through the region on January 18th. Heavy rain, mountain snow, and strong winds contributed to widespread damage and urban flooding, as well as a few flash floods with minor debris flows.
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 San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 18, 5:30 AM PST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
530 AM PST MON JAN 18 2010
.SYNOPSIS...
A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORMS WILL BRING PERIODS OF STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...HEAVY PRECIPITATION...AND HIGH SURF THIS WEEK.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
A LOWER LEVEL WARM ADVECTION PATTERN WILL CONTINUE TO BRING LIGHT TO
LOCALLY MODERATE PRECIPITATION INTO THIS AFTERNOON. AMOUNTS
OVERNIGHT HAVE RANGED FROM ONE TO TWO TENTHS FOR NORTHERN COASTAL
AREAS TO AROUND ONE THIRD INCH ON SOUTHWEST FACING SLOPES OF THE SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO ONE
INCH...MAINLY WEST OF THE CAJON PASS. SOUTHERN AREAS MAINLY ONE
TENTH INCH OR LESS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE AREA FROM MID AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING...THEN
DECREASE FROM THE NORTH LATE TONIGHT. RAINFALL THROUGH TONIGHT IS
EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES AT THE COAST TO 2 TO 4 INCHES
IN THE FOOTHILLS AND ON COASTAL MOUNTAINS SLOPES WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS
TO 8 INCHES ON SOUTHWEST FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES...MAINLY IN THE SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
THERE IS STILL SOME RESIDUAL DRIER AIR IN NORTHERN AREAS WITH SNOW
LEVELS HAVING LOWERED IN THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS TO
AROUND 6500 FEET AS SHOWN BY RADAR BRIGHT BAND DATA. AS THE
ATMOSPHERE SATURATES AND THE LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION PATTERN
CONTINUES...SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO AROUND 7500 FEET
DURING THE MORNING...THEN LOWER TO AROUND 7000 FEET DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND TO AROUND 6000 FEET BY LATE THIS EVENING. FOR THE
WEEK...SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE IN ADVANCE OF EACH STORM...THEN FALL
BEHIND EACH WITH A GENERAL LOWERING TREND DURING THE WEEK FROM
AROUND 7500 FEET TODAY...TO 4500 T0 5000 FEET FRIDAY.
WITH THE VERY FAST FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE PACIFIC...STORMS WILL BE
ARRIVING ABOUT EVERY 24 HOURS WITH PERIODS OF HEAVIER PRECIPITATION
LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON
INTO FRIDAY.
A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY
AS THE COLDEST MID LEVEL AIR WITH THIS FIRST STORM MOVES ACROSS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. SLIGHT CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS ALSO TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY.
THE PATTERN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY IS ALSO MORE FAVORABLE FOR
WATERSPOUTS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES OVER
ADJACENT LAND AREAS. THE STORM FOR LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY IS
EXPECTED TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE SERIES.
STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND UPPER DESERTS FOR
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH GUSTY PREFRONTAL SOUTH WINDS IN
COASTAL AREAS FROM MID AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING.
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD BRING WARMING AND DRYING FOR THE
WEEKEND. THEN THE PACIFIC REOPENS FOR MORE STORMS NEXT WEEK...BUT
THE MAIN IMPACTS MAY BE FARTHER NORTH WITH LESS IMPACT INTO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...THE PRECIPITATION THIS WEEK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
GENERATE RAINFALL OF 4 TO 8 INCHES NEAR THE COAST WITH 15 TO LOCALLY
25 INCHES ON THE COASTAL MOUNTAIN SLOPES...WITH HIGHEST TOTALS ON
SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST FACING SLOPES OF SAN GABRIEL AND SAN BERNARDINO
MOUNTAINS. AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE
COUNTY MOUNTAINS...MOSTLY ABOVE 7000 FEET...2 TO 4 FEET OF SNOWFALL
IS POSSIBLE.
&&
.AVIATION...
191100Z...AS SHOWERS CONTINUE THIS MORNING CEILINGS WILL BE MOSTLY
AROUND 2000 TO 3000 FEET ASL...BUT WITH SOME AROUND 1500 FEET WITH
VIS AROUND 2SM IN SOME SHOWERS. AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES...RAIN
WILL INCREASE ABOUT 00-03Z LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH CEILINGS MOSTLY
AROUND 1500 TO 2500 FEET WITH VIS 3-5SM. WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM
THE SOUTH SOUTHEAST BETWEEN 20-22Z THIS AFTERNOON AND DECREASE BY
08-10Z TONIGHT AFTER THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. AN AIRPORT
WEATHER WARNING WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR LINDBERGH FIELD THIS
AFTERNOON.
&&
.MARINE...
191100Z...A LARGE LONG PERIOD WEST SWELL WILL MOVE INTO THE COASTAL
WATERS TONIGHT. A SERIES OF LARGE SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE IN
THROUGH SATURDAY ASSOCIATED WITH A SERIES OF STORMS. A VERY LARGE
SWELL IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 AM PST THURSDAY DUE
THE ROUGH SEAS AND PERIODS STRONG SOUTH WINDS WITH GUSTS OVER 30
KTS. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY...IN EFFECT FROM EARLY TUESDAY INTO
FRIDAY...COULD BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO 3 AM PST FRIDAY FOR
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS.
WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE
COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND
FOOTHILLS.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SAN
BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM NOON PST TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM NOON PST TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT
FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR
RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT
FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS.
PZ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 AM PST
THURSDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE
MEXICAN BORDER AND OUT 30 NM-WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO
THE MEXICAN BORDER EXTENDING 30 TO 60 NM OUT INCLUDING SAN
CLEMENTE ISLAND.
&&
PUBLIC...MARTIN
AVIATION/MARINE...MACKECHNIE
NWS ON THE WEB AT WEATHER.GOV/SANDIEGOHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 710 AM PST MON JAN 18 2010 CAZ042-CAZ043-048-050-055>058-060>062-PZZ750-PZZ775-190000- ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS- SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE- SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS- RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS- SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS- COACHELLA VALLEY-SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS- COASTAL WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER AND OUT 30 NM- WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER EXTENDING 30 TO 60 NM OUT INCLUDING SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND- 710 AM PST MON JAN 18 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ALL OF EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF POWERFUL STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN...SNOW AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...LOCAL STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LARGE SURF...ESPECIALLY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS...ADVISORIES AND WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT... COASTAL WATERS...CORRECTION ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM THIS EVENING FOR FREQUENT WIND GUSTS OVER 35 KNOTS... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM PST THURSDAY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS AND SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 21 KNOTS... SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON PST TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING... APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING... SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM PST THIS EVENING... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING... RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM PST TUESDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING... ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM PST THIS EVENING... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO 3 AM PST FRIDAY... SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO 3 AM PST FRIDAY... .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A SERIES OF POWERFUL WINTER STORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK. EACH SYSTEM WILL BRING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS...AND HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW ABOVE 6000 FEET. OTHER HAZARDS INCLUDE FLASH FLOODING...MUD SLIDES...HIGH SURF AND BEACH EROSION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS WEEK BEGINNING TODAY. ATKIN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind, 2 strong wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees fell on cars in Mission Viejo along Marguerite Parkway and Crown Valley Parkway. In Corona Del Mar, a large tree fell onto a house on Heliotrope Avenue.
Between 1216 and 1246 PST, high winds were measured by the Hesperia mesonet. At 1246 PST, a peak wind gust of 62 MPH was measured.
Between 1251 and 1351 PST a peak wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by the Burns Canyon RAWS. During this event, approximately twenty road signs were blown down along Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass.
Between 1330 and 1430 PST, a peak wind gust of 63 MPH was measured by the Fremont Canyon RAWS. The end time of the event is estimated due to the fact that the RAWS stopped reporting after 1430 PST.
Heavy rain and a blocked drains caused a portion of the roof to collapse at Westcliff Medical Laboratories in Santa Ana. The collapse happened around 1500 PST.
Rain-soaked soil combined with gusty winds caused a large Eucalyptus tree to fall down on North Torrey Pines Road, damaging two vehicles. The occupants of the vehicles were not injured.
The California Highway Patrol reported flooding and mud across Highway 76 near Rincon Ranch Road in Pauma Valley. The flooding occurred after a narrow band of heavy rain moved over the area, which included the Poomacha Fire burn area. One vehicle became trapped in the mud.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2010
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: 210797, 210914, 210912, 210913, 210798, 210911, 210916.