California, 2013Dust Storm and High Wind in California, April 14 to 16, 2013
April 14 to 16, 2013 · NWS SGX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones
A large upper-level low over the Pacific Northwest deepened and swung through the Great Basin the evening of the 14th through the 16th, driving strong and gusty westerly winds across the mountains and deserts. These winds resulted in widespread blowing dust in the Coachella Valley, with visibilities down to one-eights of a mile or less at times and accumulating sand, closing main roadways…
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
A large upper-level low over the Pacific Northwest deepened and swung through the Great Basin the evening of the 14th through the 16th, driving strong and gusty westerly winds across the mountains and deserts. These winds resulted in widespread blowing dust in the Coachella Valley, with visibilities down to one-eights of a mile or less at times and accumulating sand, closing main roadways through the valley. Several mountain stations recorded sustained winds of 35-45 mph and gusts 60 to 80 mph. Following this event a weak upper low off the coast produced elevated thunderstorms in northwest San Diego County, with 60 total strikes and up to 1/2 size hail during the evening of April 24th.
Dust Storm, Coachella Valley
- When
- April 14, 4:00 PM PST to April 15, 11:00 AM PST
- Where
- Coachella Valley forecast zone
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Very windy conditions existed along the Interstate 10 corridor in the Coachella Valley on the evening of the 14th, with blowing dust bringing visibility down to under one-eighth of a mile. KESQ news reported a sand storm impacting the Coachella Music Festival with winds gusting up to 40 mph at the Coachella mesonet. California Highway Patrol reported a large quantity of sand in the roadway near Vamer Road and Monterey Avenue the following morning. The Desert Sun newspaper reported police closed Gene Autry Trail between Interstate 10 and Via Escuela and Indian Canyon Road from Palm Springs Train Road to Tramway Road due to blowing sand and reduced visibility of less than one-quarter mile. These major roads remained closed until the 16th due to blowing sand and downed trees.
High Wind, Coachella Valley
- When
- April 14, 4:00 PM PST to April 16, 11:00 AM PST
- Where
- Coachella Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Sky Valley Mesonet gusted over 58 mph off and on from around 0500 PST on the 14th to around 1000 PST on the 16th. The Whitewater RAWS also reported sustained winds 42-44 mph between 2150 PST on the 15th and 0150 PST on the 16th with gusts 58 to 68 mph.
High Wind, San Diego County Mountains
- When
- April 15, 8:00 PM PST to April 16, 6:00 AM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Volcan Mountain SDGE mesonet reported a peak gust of 75 mph between 0100 and 0110 PST on the 16th. Sustained winds of 40-50 mph occurred from 2000 PST on the 15th through 0450 PST on the 16th, with gusts above 58 mph from 2200 PST on the 15th through 0400 PST on the 16th. |The Harrison Park SDGE mesonet reported sustained winds 40-48 mph between 2200 PST on the 15th through 0330 PST on the 16th, with gusts 58-61 mph between 0130 and 0310 PST on the 16th. The peak gust was 61 mph on the 16th.
- Dust Storm
- Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flash Flooding in Mississippi, April 14, 2013$100,000 · 2 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in North Dakota, April 14 to 15, 201342 events
- Strong Wind in Georgia, April 14, 2013$28,000 · 4 events
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, April 14 to 15, 201324 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, April 14 to 18, 201321 events
- Tornado and Hail in Florida, April 14, 2013$22,000 · EF0 · 3 events
- Winter Storm in North Dakota, April 14 to 15, 201318 events
- Flash Flood in Louisiana, April 14, 2013$20,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 14, 2013$17,000 · 52 kt wind · 3 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, April 14, 20139 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, April 14, 2013EF0 · 9 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, April 14, 20139 events
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: 446548, 446552, 446553.