California, 2013High Wind in California, December 14 to 15, 2013
December 14 to 15, 2013 · NWS SGX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
Surface high pressure peaked at 1045 mb over western Utah(similar in strength to December 9-10 event, which was centered in eastern Nevada) and appeared to be diurnally enhanced due to strong radiational cooling in the Utah desert. This setup resulted in moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds.
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.
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- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
Surface high pressure peaked at 1045 mb over western Utah(similar in strength to December 9-10 event, which was centered in eastern Nevada) and appeared to be diurnally enhanced due to strong radiational cooling in the Utah desert. This setup resulted in moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds. The winds developed in the mountains and spread into the inland valleys and coastal areas of Orange county on the 14th, with strengthening winds in San Diego County late in the day. A secondary peak of offshore winds occurred the night of the 14th through midday on the 15th with the strongest winds across the Riverside and San Diego County mountains and foothills. The highest wind gusts were observed in the mountains and foothills of San Diego County.
What forecasters said that day
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 Dec 13, 9:20 PM PST, 5 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 13, 9:20 PM PST, 5 hours 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
920 PM PST FRI DEC 13 2013
.SYNOPSIS...
DRY AND MUCH WARMER THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION. MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG
NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS DEVELOPING BY EARLY SATURDAY AND CONTINUE
THROUGH SUNDAY...WEAKENING ON MONDAY. GRADUAL COOLING TUESDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY WITH A RETURN OF COASTAL LOW CLOUDS AND FOG BY
THURSDAY.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
A BAND OF HIGH CLOUDS WAS MOVING IN FROM THE WEST ALONG THE MEXICAN
BORDER THIS EVENING. A FEW PATCHES OF STRATUS AND FOG ARE TRYING TO
FORM ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. PATCHY FOG MAY MOVE INTO THE COASTAL
AREAS FOR A SHORT TIME THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...MAINLY IN SAN
DIEGO COUNTY.
SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS ARE TRENDING OFFSHORE AS SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE GREAT BASIN. GRADIENTS ARE ALREADY AROUND
-8 MB SAN-TPH...BUT ONLY -1.6 MB SAN-DAG. AS COLDER AIR MOVES INTO
THE LOCAL DESERTS TONIGHT AND GRADIENTS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS
STRENGTHEN...EXPECT MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG NORTHEAST TO EAST
WINDS TO DEVELOP. STRONGEST WINDS LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING
WILL BE IN THE FAVORED NORTHEAST WIND PRONE LOCATIONS SUCH AS THE
CAJON PASS AND FREMONT CANYON. WIND GUSTS 40 TO 55 MPH AND ISOLATED
GUSTS TO AROUND 65 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE LOCATIONS. EAST WINDS
WILL PICK UP ACROSS THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND
BELOW THE SAN GORGONIO PASS SAT AFTERNOON...PEAKING SAT NIGHT INTO
SUNDAY MORNING. PEAK WIND GUSTS OF ABOUT 65 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ALONG
THE WEST SLOPES OF CUYAMACA AND VOLCAN MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS NEAR THE SAN
GORGONIO PASS. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE SUNDAY AFTERNOON...WITH
LOCAL GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS CONTINUING INTO MONDAY.
THE EASTERN PACIFIC RIDGE WILL EXPAND EASTWARD ACROSS CALIFORNIA
THROUGH THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. OFFSHORE FLOW AND BUILDING
HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT ARE THE PERFECT PAIRING FOR A MID-DECEMBER HEAT
WAVE. HIGH TEMPS ON SATURDAY WILL BE A FEW DEGREES BELOW NORMAL IN
THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS...AND A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL WEST OF
THE MOUNTAINS. BY MONDAY HIGH TEMPS WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 15
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE WARMER VALLEY LOCATIONS WILL EASILY SEE
TEMPS IN THE UPPER 70S AND LOW 80S. MINOR COOLING WILL TAKE PLACE
TUESDAY AS HEIGHTS/THICKNESSES DECREASE AND OFFSHORE FLOW WEAKENS
FURTHER. OTHERWISE EXPECT FAIR WEATHER WITH SOME HIGH CLOUDS AT
TIMES INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
A SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING INTO SOUTHERN CA ON WED WILL BRING MORE
SIGNIFICANT COOLING WITH HIGH TEMPS RETURNING TO NORMAL. A LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DIG ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND ITS ASSOCIATED
TROUGH AXIS WILL MOVE THROUGH CA THURSDAY...BRINGING EVEN MORE
COOLING AND GUSTY WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. MARINE LAYER
LOW CLOUDS AND FOG COULD RETURN TO THE COAST AS EARLY AS WED
AFTERNOON...MORE LIKELY WED NIGHT. THE MARINE LAYER WILL RAPIDLY
DEEPEN AND SPREAD INTO THE VALLEYS THU AS THE TROUGH PASSES. THIS
COULD BRING SOME DRIZZLE ALONG AND WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS. MEDIUM
RANGE MODELS CURRENTLY SHOW THE UPPER LOW DIGGING SOUTH INTO WESTERN
AZ ON FRIDAY. IF THIS SOLUTION VERIFIES WE COULD SEE SOME STRONG
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS DEVELOPING FRIDAY. GIVEN RECENT MODEL
PERFORMANCE WITH THE TRACK OF THESE LOWS WOULD NOT COUNT ON ANY ONE
SOLUTION AT THIS POINT...EVEN IF THEY ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AT THIS
TIME.
&&
.AVIATION...
140400Z...COAST/VALLEYS...PATCHES OF LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ARE FORMING
ALONG THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY COAST...WITH BASES AROUND 1000 FT MSL AND
VIS 3-5SM. A FEW HOURS OF BKN-OVC CIGS IS POSSIBLE AT COASTAL TAF
SITES BEFORE 09Z...BUT CONFIDENCE IS ONLY MODERATE. BASES WILL
LIKELY BE 600-1100 FT MSL AND TOPS 1000-1200 FT MSL...WITH LOCAL VIS
3-5SM. AFTER 09Z...MOSTLY CLEAR WITH UNRESTRICTED VIS.
MTNS...AFTER 07Z...NE TO E WINDS GUSTING 40-50 KT ACROSS MTN
RIDGES...WILL CREATE STG-SVR UDDFS/ROTORS/LLWS OVER AND W OR SW OF
THE MTNS. STRONG N TO NE WINDS MAY OCCUR AT KSNA AND KONT AFTER
14Z...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THE TIMING IS LOW...ESPECIALLY FOR
KONT. OTHERWISE...MOSTLY CLEAR WITH UNRESTRICTED VIS THROUGH
SATURDAY.
DESERTS...AFTER 09Z...NE WIND GUSTS 40-50 KT OVER THE LITTLE SAN
BERNARDINO MTNS WILL BRING STG/SVR UDDFS/ROTORS/LLWS OVER AND SW OF
THE MTNS AND INTO THE COACHELLA VALLEY. OTHERWISE...MOSTLY CLEAR
WITH UNRESTRICTED VIS THROUGH SATURDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
A LONG-PERIOD NORTHWEST SWELL GENERATED BY A STORM OVER THE
NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC WILL ARRIVE AT OUR BEACHES SUNDAY NIGHT...PEAK
MONDAY AT 6 FEET/16 SECONDS SOUTH OF SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND...THEN
SUBSIDE ON TUESDAY. THIS SWELL COULD BE LARGE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE HIGH
SURF CONDITIONS AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS ALONG EXPOSED WEST FACING
BEACHES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND NORTHERN ORANGE COUNTY MONDAY INTO
TUESDAY. A BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED AS AN OUTLOOK.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT
ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS...BEFORE SPREADING INTO THE VALLEYS SATURDAY
MORNING. NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE...WITH THE FAVORED CANYONS AND PASSES SEEING ISOLATED GUSTS
UP TO 65 MPH. THESE MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE
INTO SUNDAY AS WELL...WITH A SECONDARY PEAK ON SUNDAY MORNING.
STRONGEST WINDS ON SUNDAY WILL BE ALONG THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AS WELL AS BELOW THE SAN GORGONIO PASS.
THESE MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH DAYTIME
HUMIDITY LESS THAN 15 PERCENT ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING TO ELEVATE THE WILDFIRE DANGER. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS
IN EFFECT FOR THE INLAND AREAS OF ORANGE COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SANTA
ANA FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS...THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
MOUNTAINS...THE INLAND EMPIRE...THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...THE
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS.
WEAKER OFFSHORE WINDS AND AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR
MONDAY AND TUESDAY. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE WEDNESDAY AS ONSHORE
FLOW AND COOLER WEATHER RETURN.
&&
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR THE
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...RIVERSIDE COUNTY
MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE SAN JACINTO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE
SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST...SAN BERNARDINO AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE...SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND FRONT
COUNTRY RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL
FOREST...SAN DIEGO COUNTY INLAND VALLEYS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY
MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE PALOMAR AND DESCANSO RANGER
DISTRICTS OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST...SANTA ANA
MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE TRABUCO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE
CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM PST SUNDAY FOR
THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...RIVERSIDE COUNTY
MOUNTAINS... SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO
AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE...SANTA ANA
MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS.
BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR THE BEACHES IN THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL
AREAS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM PST SUNDAY FOR
THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM PST SUNDAY FOR
THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS.
PZ...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC/FIRE...SS
AVIATION/MARINE...PGHigh Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills
- When
- December 14, 2:30 AM PST to 11:30 AM PST
- Where
- Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
- Measured
- 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High winds began at the Pleasants Peak mesonet between 0230-0300 PST and ended between 1100-1130 PST on the 14th. During this time, winds were sustained 40-50 mph out of the east-northeast, gusting mostly above 60 mph. The peak gust of 72 mph was measured between 0500-0530 PST.
High Wind, Coachella Valley
- When
- December 14, 5:30 AM PST to 6:30 AM PST
- Where
- Coachella Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High winds occurred at the Sky Valley mesonet between 0557-0612 PST on the 14th. During this time, a peak gust of 72 mph was recorded, along with 2 other gusts of 62 mph.
High Wind, San Diego County Mountains
- When
- December 14, 8:00 PM PST to December 15, 8:00 AM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High winds began at the Sill Hill mesonet between 1840-1850 PST on the 14th and ended between 1020-1030 PST on the 15th. During this time, sustained winds were 40-50 mph out of the east with most gusts over 65 mph. The peak gust of 81 mph was measured between 0140-0150 PST on the 15th. |High winds occurred at the Buckman Springs mesonet between 2230-2240 PST on the 14th with a peak gust of 67 mph recorded during that period. |High winds occurred at the Boulder Creek mesonet between 2000-2030 PST on the 14th with a peak gust of 61 mph recorded during that period. |High winds occurred at the Lucky Five Ranch mesonet between 2300-2330 PST on the 14th with a peak gust of 60 mph recorded during that period.|High winds occurred at the West Santa Ysabel mesonet between 0610-0750 PST on the 15th with a peak gust of 59 mph recorded during that period.|High winds occurred at the Crestwood mesonet between 0000-0100 PST on the 15th with a peak gust of 58 mph recorded during that period.|High winds occurred at the La Posta mesonet between 0040-0100 PST on the 15th with a peak gust of 58 mph recorded during that period.
High Wind, San Diego County Valleys
- When
- December 15, 9:45 PM PST to 10:30 PM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High winds occurred at the Big Black Mountain mesonet between 2145-2215 PST on the 14th with a peak gust of 63 mph recorded during that period.
- 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.
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 14 to 15, 20132 deaths · 1 injured · 36 events
- Winter Weather in Washington, December 14, 20131 death · 1 event
- Tornado and Hail in Florida, December 14, 2013$5.0 million · EF1 · 3 events
- Heavy Snow in Ohio, December 14, 2013$675,000 · 5 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Vermont, December 14 to 15, 2013$135,000 · 16 events
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 14 to 15, 2013$200,000 · 2 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, December 14 to 15, 2013$75,000 · 9 events
- Winter Storm in New York, December 14 to 15, 2013$65,000 · 8 events
- High Wind in Alaska, December 14, 2013$80,000 · 60 kt wind · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New Jersey, December 14 to 15, 20134 injured · 12 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New York, December 14 to 15, 201327 events
- Winter Weather in West Virginia, December 14, 2013$25,000 · 2 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: 489638, 489639, 489641, 489642.