On the evening of 30th, a strong north to northeast wind event developed across sections of Southern California as a cold front swept across the area. Widespread wind gusts between 60 and 70 MPH were reported across the mountains of Ventura county as well as the mountains and valleys of Los Angeles county from the evening of the 30th through December 1st.
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.
On the evening of 30th, a strong north to northeast wind event developed across sections of Southern California as a cold front swept across the area. Widespread wind gusts between 60 and 70 MPH were reported across the mountains of Ventura county as well as the mountains and valleys of Los Angeles county from the evening of the 30th through December 1st. Widespread power outages were reported, especially across the San Gabriel Valley where over 350,000 residents lost power. In the city of Pasadena, significant wind damage was reported with at least 42 buildings red-tagged due to wind damage. Along with the power outages, numerous trees were uprooted or severely damaged from La Canada-Flintridge to Monrovia. Strong northerly cross winds at Los Angeles International Airport resulted in 23 flights being diverted to Ontario International Airport.
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 30, 9:30 PM PST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 930 PM PST WED NOV 30 2011 NEW AVIATION DISCUSSION .SYNOPSIS... A COLD UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING STRONG GUSTY SANTA ANA WINDS TO VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY...RETURNING TO AROUND NORMAL FOR THE WEEKEND. WEAKER OFFSHORE WINDS MAY PERSIST THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. && .SHORT TERM (TODAY-SAT)...SO MUCH GOING ON THIS EVENING...WILL FOCUS ON THE NEXT 48 HOURS FOR THE UPDATE. DETAILED SYNOPSIS...UPPER LVL LOW WILL START TO CUT OFF OVER SOUTHERN NEVADA THIS EVENING...THEN MEANDER SOUTH OVER YUMA AZ BY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS CUTOFF LOW WILL THEN MOVE LITTLE THROUGH FRIDAY BEFORE EXITING TO THE EAST. ANOTHER UPPER LOW TROUGH WILL DIG DOWN ACROSS THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST AND CUTOFF OVER ARIZ ON SATURDAY SATURDAY. FOR THIS EVENING...STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ALREADY PICKING UP ACROSS ALL COUNTIES WITH SOME IMPRESSIVE GUSTS ALREADY BEING RECORDED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND SAUGUS REPORTED A GUST TO 67 MPH. LOW CLOUDS HAVE SCOURED OUT ACROSS THE LA COASTAL AREAS THIS EVENING AS GUSTY NORTH WINDS HAVE BEGUN TO IMPACT WEST LOS ANGELES. HAVE MOVED UP THE START TIMES FOR THE HIGH WIND WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR THIS EVENING AS WINDS ARE CURRENTLY INCREASING OVER THE AREA. LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATED GREAT SUBSIDENCE OVER THE REGION WHICH MAKES SENSE DUE TO VERY COLD AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BACKSIDE OF THE UPPER LOW. THIS COLD AIR WILL HELP TO INTENSIFY GOOD UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT WITH STRONG DOWNWARD MOTION TRANSPORTING TO THE SURFACE. AT THE LOWER LEVELS...A STRONG NORTHERLY GRADIENT WILL LINE UP WITH UPPER LVL SUPPORT TO MAKE THIS A VERY STRONG WIND EVENT. HIGH WIND WARNINGS WERE ADDED FOR THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT WIND PRONE SBA SOUTH COAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WITH THE MODELS COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT LAST NIGHT...THIS WIND EVENT INITIALLY WILL BE OUT OF THE NORTH AFFECTING A BROAD AREA OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ALL OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS LIKELY OVERNIGHT. SINCE THE WIND DIRECTION WILL BE OUT OF THE NORTH...MUCH OF THE VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS AND COASTAL AREAS WILL NOT SEE WINDS QUITE AS STRONG TONIGHT...EXCEPT FOR THE OJAI AREA WHICH DOES WELL WITH NORTH WINDS WITH STRONG EVENTS. WINDS WILL THEN SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS MORE TRADITIONAL SANTA ANA WIND DIRECTION WILL CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY OVER THE VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS AND COASTAL WATERS WHILE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CONTINUES WITH A STRONG OFFSHORE EVENT. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN STRONG THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...THEN DIMINISH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ***FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION*** THE UPPER TROF IS FORECAST TO MOVE SOUTH AND STRENGTHEN INTO AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER EXTREME SERN CA OR THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY BY LATE TONIGHT INTO THU MORNING. THE UPPER LOW IS FORECAST TO REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY THRU THU NIGHT THEN DRIFT INTO AZ ON FRI...ALTHO THE WRF IS QUICKER IN MOVING THE UPPER LOW EASTWARD... WHILE THE EC IS SLOWEST. A SIGNIFICANT OFFSHORE WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER MUCH OF VTU/L.A. COUNTIES TONIGHT THANKS TO RAPIDLY INCREASING NORTHERLY GRADIENTS...PLENTY OF COLD AIR ADVECTION...AND VERY STRONG N TO NE WINDS ALOFT AND AT LOWER LEVELS. THE 12Z WRF WAS FORECASTING 850 MB WINDS TO BE AS HIGH AS 70 KT AT TIMES...WITH 950 MB (1500 FT) WINDS AS HIGH AS 45 KT. WRF ISENTROPIC CROSS SECTIONS AND OMEGA FIELDS CONTINUE TO INDICATE PLENTY OF DOWNWARD SUPPORT OF MOMENTUM TRANSFER OF HI WINDS TO LOWER LEVELS. AS A RESULT...WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS 80 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE L.A./VTU MTNS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA MTNS...UP TO 70 MPH IN THE SANTA MONICA MTNS...AND AS HIGH AS 60-65 MPH IN THE VLYS OF VTU/L.A. COUNTIES AND THE COASTAL AREAS OF L.A. COUNTY FROM LATER TONIGHT INTO FRI MORNING. HOWEVER...WINDS OVER VTU COUNTY VLYS MAY NOT BE QUITE AS STRONG TONIGHT INTO THU MORNING AS IT LOOKS LIKE WINDS WILL BE MORE NORTHERLY WHICH MAY LIMIT THE WIDESPREAD STRONG WINDS TO CERTAIN AREAS BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS SUCH AS IN AND AROUND LAKE CASITAS AND THE VLYS OF EXTREME SE VTU COUNTY. WINDS SHOULD TURN NE AND BECOME MUCH STRONGER THU NIGHT INTO FRI MORNING FOR THE VTU COUNTY VLYS. AS A RESULT...THE HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE VTU VLYS WILL BE FOR THU NIGHT INTO FRI MORNING...WITH A WIND ADVISORY FOR FOR TONIGHT INTO THU MORNING. OTHERWISE...HIGH WIND WARNINGS REMAIN FOR MUCH OF L.A. COUNTY AND PORTIONS OF VTU COUNTY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST LAXNPWLOX FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE HIGH WIND WARNINGS AND WIND ADVISORIES. THE UPPER TROF MAY BRING SOME CLOUDINESS AT TIMES TO EASTERN L.A. COUNTY THU INTO FRI...OTHERWISE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES SHOULD PREVAIL OVER THE FORECAST AREA. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO COOL SIGNIFICANTLY TO SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW NORMAL IN ALL AREAS THU AND FRI. IN ADDITION...WIDESPREAD FROST IN SHELTERED AREAS IS EXPECTED FOR THE SLO INTERIOR VALLEYS TONIGHT. HOWEVER...IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST WIDESPREAD HARD FREEZE OF THE SEASON WILL OCCUR FOR THIS AREA THU NIGHT THANKS TO LIGHTER WINDS. FOR FRI NIGHT AND SAT...THE UPPER LOW WILL MOVE FURTHER E WHILE ANOTHER UPPER LOW DROPS SOUTH OVER UTAH FRI NIGHT AND INTO NORTHERN AZ ON SAT. DRY WEATHER WILL CONTINUE OVER SWRN CA THRU SAT. OFFSHORE FLOW IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE AGAIN BY EARLY SAT...WITH GUSTY NE WINDS POSSIBLE OVER MUCH OF VTU/L.A. COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST WINDS SHOULD BE OVER THE MOUNTAINS...WITH WARNING LEVEL WIND GUSTS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. ADVISORY LEVEL WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE VALLEYS AND PERHAPS EVEN SOME COASTAL AREAS AS WELL. IT APPEARS THAT ANOTHER ROUND OF WIND ADVISORIES OR HIGH WIND WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. TEMPS OVER THE REGION WILL REMAIN COOLER THAN NORMAL THRU SAT. ANOTHER WIDESPREAD HARD FREEZE LOOKS POSSIBLE FOR THE SLO INTERIOR VALLEYS FRI NIGHT. .LONG TERM (SUN-WED)...GFS AND ECMWF IN MUCH BETTER AGREEMENT FOR SUN AND MON THEN START TO SHOW SOME RELATIVELY MINOR DIFFERENCES FOR SWRN CA FOR TUE AND WED. BOTH MODELS KEEP LARGE UPPER RIDGING OVER THE ERN PAC WITH A BROAD NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT FOR THE MOST PART OVER CA. THEY ALSO FORECAST THE UPPER LOW OVER AZ MOVING E SUN AND MON. THE GFS FORECASTS A WEAK DISSIPATING COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA ON WED AS WELL. OTHERWISE...GENERALLY DRY OFFSHORE FLOW WILL PERSIST MAINLY NIGHT AND MORNING HOURS THRU TUE WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. WINDS MAY BECOME GUSTY ENOUGH TO REACH ADVISORY LEVELS AT TIMES IN THE VALLEYS AND MTNS OF VTU/L.A. COUNTIES. THE LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL THEN TURN ONSHORE FOR WED ALONG WITH PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEAR NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE PERIOD. COLD NIGHTTIME TEMPS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED AT LEAST THRU MON NIGHT...WITH PATCHY FROST IN THE COLD SHELTERED VALLEYS. && .AVIATION... 01/0630Z VERY STRONG NORTH WINDS WILL AFFECT ALL AREAS DURING THE PERIOD. THERE WILL BE POCKETS OF SVR TURBULENCE OVER THE MTNS AS WELL AS A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR STANDING MTN WAVES OVER AS WELL AS 4 MILES TO THE SOUTH OF THE MTNS. KLAX...GOOD CONFIDENCE IN TAF. CROSS WINDS WILL PEAK 11Z-16Z. KBUR...GOOD CONFIDENCE IN TAF. MDT TURBC SFC-070. ELEVATED RISK OF LLWS SFC-015. && .MARINE...EAST TO NORTHEAST FACING HARBORS...BAYS AND INLETS SUCH AS AVALON HARBOR MAY BE AFFECTED BY A SHORT PERIOD NORTHEAST WIND DRIVEN SWELL THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. THE SWELL MAY CREATE HAZARDS FOR BOATERS TRAVELING ACROSS THE INNER WATERS OR PLANNING TO DOCK OR DROP ANCHOR IN LOCATIONS WITH NORTHEAST EXPOSURE. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). RED FLAG WARNING (SEE LAXRFWLOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). GALE WARNING (SEE LAXMWWLOX). HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK (SEE LAXSRFLOX). MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT (SEE LAXMWSLOX). && PUBLIC...KAPLAN/SIRARD AVIATION...ASR SYNOPSIS...B WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 630 AM PST WED NOV 30 2011 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-011400- 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- 630 AM PST WED NOV 30 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TODAY DENSE FOG WILL CREATE DRIVING HAZARDS IN THE LAX TO LONG BEACH AREA THROUGH MID MORNING. BEACHGOERS WILL FACE AN ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK IN THE SURF ZONE TODAY. DANGEROUS WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN THE L.A. AND VENTURA MOUNTAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALLY HAZARDOUS WINDS WILL DEVELOP THROUGH BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS IN THE SANTA YNEZ RANGE AS WELL AS THE SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST. HAZARDOUS WEST WINDS WILL ALSO DEVELOP ACROSS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. * DENSE FOG ADVISORY.........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK......SEE FZUS56 KLOX - SRFLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THERE WILL BE A VERY STRONG SANTA ANA WIND EVENT DEVELOPING ACROSS THE REGION EARLY THURSDAY...AND CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. THERE WILL LIKELY BE DAMAGING WINDS WITH SEVERAL IMPACTS INCLUDING DOWNED POWERLINES AND TREES...HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES...BLOWING DUST AND SAND AS WELL AS ROUGH SEAS FOR MARINERS ACROSS THE INNER WATERS. THERE WILL BE DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID FIRE GROWTH BEGINNING WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH FRIDAY. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * RED FLAG WARNING...........SEE WWUS86 KLOX - RFWLOX FOR DETAILS * * MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT...SEE FZUS76 KLOX - MWSLOX FOR DETAILS * * SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..SEE WWUS86 KLOX - SPSLOX FOR DETAILS * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. JS/ASR
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
746 PM PST WED NOV 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 4 N MANHATTAN BEACH 33.95N 118.42W
11/30/2011 LOS ANGELES CA BROADCAST MEDIA
POWER OUT AT LOS ANGELES AIRPORT WITH DEBRIS ACROSS
RUNWAYS. STRONG CROSS WIND GUSTS TO 47 MPH. AIRPORT
CLOSED
0657 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW CASTAIC LAKE 34.57N 118.74W
11/30/2011 M97 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
97 MPH HOUR GUST AT WHITAKER PEAK RAWS LOCATED 4120 FT
&&
KAPLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
750 PM PST WED NOV 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0750 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG MARINA DEL REY 33.98N 118.45W
11/30/2011 LOS ANGELES CA BROADCAST MEDIA
STRONG WINDS CAUSED SEVERAL POWER OUTAGES ACROSS WESTERN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY INCLUDING MARINA DEL REY...VENICE
BEACH...AND EL SEGUNDO.
&&
KAPLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
802 PM PST WED NOV 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0557 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NW SANTA CLARITA 34.42N 118.53W
11/30/2011 M67 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
67 MPH GUST AT SAUGUS RAWS LOCATED 1450 FT
0555 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 N SAN FERNANDO 34.36N 118.42W
11/30/2011 M64 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
64 MPH HOUR GUST AT CAMP NINE RAWS LOCATED AT 4000 FT
0753 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 ESE CASTAIC LAKE 34.60N 118.58W
11/30/2011 M69 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
69 MPH GUST AT WARM SPRINGS RAWS LOCATED AT 4930 FT
&&
KAPLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
1036 PM PST WED NOV 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0956 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NE MALIBU 34.06N 118.63W
11/30/2011 M59 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
59 MPH GUST AT MALIBU HILLS RAWS SITE LOCATED AT 1575 FT.
0954 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW ACTON 34.45N 118.20W
11/30/2011 M65 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
65 MPH GUST AT ACTON RAWS SITE LOCATED AT 2600 FT.
1000 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW PASADENA 34.21N 118.19W
11/30/2011 M62 MPH LOS ANGELES CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER NEAR LA CANADA COUNTRY CLUB REPORTED
NORTH WIND GUST 62 MPH.
&&
KAPLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
1110 PM PST WED NOV 30 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1040 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NNE GLENDALE 34.20N 118.24W
11/30/2011 M60 MPH LOS ANGELES CA TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND GUST TO 60 MPH IN THE HILLS ABOVE GLENDALE.
&&
HALL1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter in Glendale reported northerly wind gusts to 60 MPH.
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: 353406.