A closed upper level low pressure system dropped south along the Southern California coast and moved inland across San Diego and northern Baja, bringing 2 days of widespread heavy rainfall, along with gusty winds ahead of the precipitation and mountain snow. 5 inches west of the mountains and areas below the snow level of around 5000 feet, resulting in an Urban and Small Stream flood advisory…
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 SGX wrote it up.
A closed upper level low pressure system dropped south along the Southern California coast and moved inland across San Diego and northern Baja, bringing 2 days of widespread heavy rainfall, along with gusty winds ahead of the precipitation and mountain snow. Rainfall amounts from the 20th-21st were 1 to 1.5 inches west of the mountains and areas below the snow level of around 5000 feet, resulting in an Urban and Small Stream flood advisory due to minor flooding on freeway ramps and other streets in western San Diego County. The month of November also ended around 300% of normal for monthly rainfall at Lindbergh Field, due in part to this event. Above 5000 feet, many areas received significant snow amounts, the highest being above 7000 feet in the San Bernardino County Mountains. Above 7000 feet, the Mountain High ski resort received 10 inches of snow with this storm, while the Onyx Peak and Wrightwood areas received 4-6 inches of snow. Big Bear and other areas between 6000 and 7000 feet received 2-4 inches. All of the areas above the snow level had chain controls in place for this event.
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 Nov 19, 9:30 AM PST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 930 AM PST SAT NOV 19 2011 .SYNOPSIS... COOL TODAY...AND MOSTLY CLOUDY WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS LINGERING INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON. LOCALLY GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. CONTINUED COOL AND MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH LIGHT SHOWERS RETURNING EARLY SUNDAY...THEN FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY MONDAY...A PACIFIC STORM COULD BRING MODERATE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WITH SOME MOUNTAIN SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. DRY AND WARMER FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM COULD BRING MODERATE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND GUSTY WINDS ON THANKSGIVING. && .DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE... SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES... TODAY THROUGH MONDAY... A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL MAINTAIN STRONGER ONSHORE FLOW THROUGH TONIGHT WITH COOLER THAN AVERAGE TEMPERATURES...GUSTY WEST WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS...AND A DEEP MARINE LAYER WITH A FEW SPRINKLES OR SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS ALONG AND WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS. THE LIGHT SHOWERS WILL DISSIPATE IN THE AFTERNOON. MOST AREAS SHOULD RECEIVE LITTLE OR NO MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION...BUT SOME LOCATIONS COULD GET A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH. FOR SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY...MOST MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AS TO THE TRACK AND TIMING OF THE DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING SE JUST OFF THE COAST OF NRN CALIFORNIA. THE MOST NOTABLE EXCEPTION IS THE GFS WHICH IS A LITTLE FASTER WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM. THE PREFERRED SOLUTION OF THE ECMWF SHOWS THE LOW MOVING INTO SOCAL LATE SUNDAY THEN MOVING TO THE SE MON MORNING. WITH THIS TRACK AND TIMING SIG PRECIP SHOULD BEGIN SUN AFTERNOON/EVENING IN OUR AREA...ALTHOUGH SOME LIGHT PRCIP IS POSSIBLE EARLIER IN THE DAY ON SUNDAY ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN AREAS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RANGE FROM ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH AT THE COAST AND ONE HALF TO ONE INCH ON THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS SLOPES. ONE QUARTER INCH OR LESS IS EXPECTED IN THE UPPER DESERTS AND ONE TENTH INCH OR LESS IN THE LOWER DESERTS. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NRN PORTIONS SUNDAY EVENING AS THE COLDEST MID LEVEL AIR MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESTABILIZING THE ATMOSPHERE. IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY ABOVE 5500 TO 6000 FEET. ANY LINGERING SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO END OVER SOUTHERN AREAS EARLY MONDAY MORNING WITH A WARMING AND DRYING TREND BEGINNING MONDAY AFTERNOON. TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... DRY AND WARMER WITH FAIR SKIES FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK UNDER HIGH PRESSURE WITH PERIODS OF WEAK OFFSHORE WINDS NEAR THE COASTAL FOOTHILLS AT TIMES. FOR THANKSGIVING...ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM MOVING INLAND THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN BAJA COULD BRING MODERATE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND GUSTY WINDS. CURRENT TIMING WOULD BRING THE MAIN IMPACTS FROM AROUND DAYBREAK THANKSGIVING INTO THE EVENING. FAIR AND WARMER AGAIN FOR FRIDAY AND SAT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. && .AVIATION... 191700Z...COASTS/VALLEYS/MOUNTAINS...MULTIPLE BKN-OVC CLOUD LAYERS BASED BETWEEN 2000 AND 5000 FT MSL WITH TOPS TO NEAR 6000 FT MSL. BECOMING BKN-SCT 3000-4000 FT MSL KSNA-KCRQ-KSAN AFTER ABOUT 18Z BUT CONTINUED BKN-OVC KONT-KRNM. TERRAIN OBSCURED MOUNTAIN AREA. CLOUDS INCREASING AFTER 12Z LATE TONIGHT TO BECOME BKN-OVC 2000-4000 FEET AND TOPS 6000 FEET MSL...BUT LAYERS MERGING AND TOPS RISING UP TO 8000 FEET MSL BY 18Z SUNDAY WITH RW- REACHING KSNA AROUND 18Z. DESERTS...LOCAL WEST WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 25 TO 35 KT AND ASSOCIATED UDDFS AND LLWS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. OTHERWISE SCT CLOUDS AOA FL150 AND UNRESTRICTED VSBY...EXCEPT IN THE HIGH DESERTS WHERE AREAS BKN-OVC 5000-7000 FT MSL THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. && .MARINE... NORTHWEST WINDS TO 20 KT IN THE OUTER COASTAL WATERS THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL TURN SOUTH AND BECOME GUSTY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. THIS FRONT WILL BRING SHOWERS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. && .SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...NONE. PZ...NONE. && PUBLIC...PG AVIATION/MARINE...SMALL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 456 AM PST SAT NOV 19 2011 CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-PZZ750-775-201400- 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- 456 AM PST SAT NOV 19 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ALL OF EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY MONDAY...A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM FROM THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INLAND ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN BAJA BRINGING MODERATE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND GUSTY WINDS. GREATEST AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RANGE FROM ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH AT THE COAST TO ONE HALF TO ONE INCH ON THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS SLOPES. ONE QUARTER INCH OR LESS IS EXPECTED IN THE UPPER DESERTS AND ONE TENTH INCH OR LESS IN THE LOWER DESERTS. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY EVENING AS THE COLDEST MID LEVEL AIR MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESTABILIZING THE ATMOSPHERE. IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY ABOVE 5500 TO 6000 FEET. ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM OF MODERATE INTENSITY IS POSSIBLE ON THANKSGIVING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN WEATHER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED FOR THIS AREA... HOWEVER WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. MARTIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 453 AM PST SAT NOV 19 2011 CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-201400- 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- 453 AM PST SAT NOV 19 2011 ...PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING... FOR SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY MONDAY...A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM FROM THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INLAND ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN BAJA BRINGING MODERATE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND GUSTY WINDS. GREATEST AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RANGE FROM ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH AT THE COAST TO ONE HALF TO ONE INCH ON THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS SLOPES. ONE QUARTER INCH OR LESS IS EXPECTED IN THE UPPER DESERTS AND ONE TENTH INCH OR LESS IN THE LOWER DESERTS. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY EVENING AS THE COLDEST MID LEVEL AIR MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESTABILIZING THE ATMOSPHERE. IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY ABOVE 5500 TO 6000 FEET. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/SANDIEGO...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES. MARTIN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds began in the Coachella Valley between 0950 and 1050 PST and ended between 1250 and 1350 PST on the 19th. During that time, two gusts of 58 mph were measured at the Whitewater RAWS between 0950 and 1150 PST.
The Weather Currents station at Beaumont-Calimesa received 1.17 inches of rain in the hour between 1900 and 2000 PST on the 20th and a total of 1.61 inches for the day.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in California, November 2011
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: 353939, 353823.