Strong Santa Ana winds developed across the mountains and interior valleys of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Strong surface high pressure developed in the Great Basin, generating a strong northeasterly pressure gradient.
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 LOX wrote it up.
Strong Santa Ana winds developed across the mountains and interior valleys of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Strong surface high pressure developed in the Great Basin, generating a strong northeasterly pressure gradient. This strong surface gradient, combined with good upper level wind and thermal support, produced wind gusts in excess of 70 MPH.
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 Feb 23, 8:15 PM PST, 41 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 815 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2013 .SYNOPSIS... MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MID WEEK. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE GREAT BASIN TONIGHT...RESULTING IN GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS FOR THE WIND PRONE AREAS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES THROUGH SUNDAY. FURTHER WARMING AND WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE LATE NEXT WEEK AS OFFSHORE FLOW CONTINUES AND A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE WEST COAST. && .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-TUE)...STRONG AND GUSTY NW TO N WINDS WERE AFFECTING THE L.A./VTU MTNS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I-5 CORRIDOR THIS EVENING. THE STRONG WINDS WERE ALSO AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. OVERNIGHT...THE LOWER LEVEL FLOW WILL QUICKLY TURN NE...AND THANKS TO INCREASING OFFSHORE GRADIENTS AND COLD AIR ADVECTION...THERE WILL BE SUPPORT FOR STRONG WINDS TO MOVE INTO THE VTU COUNTY VLYS AND COAST...THE SANTA MONICA MTNS...AND ALSO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND L.A. COUNTY COAST FROM MALIBU TO THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS. WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A SPOTTER REPORT OF WINDS GUSTING TO 61 MPH IN VALENCIA. HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT INTO SUN AFTERNOON FOR THE L.A./VTU MTNS...SANTA MONICA MTNS...AND SANTA CLARITA VALLEY...WHERE WIND GUSTS WILL REACH 60 MPH OR LOCALLY EVEN HIGHER. ELSEWHERE OVER VTU/L.A. COUNTIES THERE ARE WIND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT WITH PEAK GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE IN SOME AREAS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE HIGH WIND WARNINGS AND WIND ADVISORIES...PLEASE SEE LAXNPWLOX. AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL PERSIST OVER THE EASTERN PAC THRU MON. AN UPPER TROF OVER THE GREAT BASIN THIS EVENING WILL MOVE OFF TO THE E THRU SUN...WITH A BROAD NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER SRN CA. A WEAK UPPER LEVEL TROF WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA ON MON...FOLLOWED BY WEAK UPPER LEVEL RIDGING FOR TUE. THE OFFSHORE FLOW WILL DIMINISH LATER SUN AND SUN NIGHT...WITH WINDS EXPECTED TO REMAIN GENERALLY BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS. MORE OFFSHORE FLOW CAN BE EXPECTED MAINLY NIGHT AND MORNING HOURS MON THRU TUE AS WELL. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES CAN BE EXPECTED SUN THRU TUE...ALONG WITH TEMPS NEAR NORMAL TO SEVERAL DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL EACH DAY...EXCEPT SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW NORMAL IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY ON SUN. LOW TEMPS WILL TURN COLDER ESPECIALLY IN WIND SHELTERED AREAS SUN NIGHT AND EARLY MON WHERE SOME FROSTS MAY BE POSSIBLE. ***FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION*** .LONG TERM (WED-SAT)...IT WILL BE TOUGH FORECAST FOR MIDWEEK AS GEFS SOLUTIONS VARY PHASES BETWEEN A WEAK RIDGE AND WEAK TROUGH OVER THE AREA. IF THE TROUGH SCENARIO PLAYS OUT...A COOLER SOLUTION COULD DEVELOP AS IT IS POSSIBLE A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY COULD MOVE SOUTH AND RESULT IN COOLER TEMPERATURES. WITH GFS SOLUTIONS TRENDING COOLER WITH DECLINING 500 MB HEIGHTS...THE FORECAST REMAINS UNCHANGED FOR WEDNESDAY...IGNORING A MOS GUIDANCE WARMING TREND FOR MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK. WITH GOOD AGREEMENT IN THE GEFS SOLUTIONS WITH A RIDGE IN PLACE AND THE OPERATIONAL GFS SOLUTIONS TRENDING MORE TOWARDS A RIDGE SOLUTION...THE PACKAGE WAS TRENDED WARMER FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. && .AVIATION...23/2355Z...HI CONFIDENCE OVERALL IN THE CURRENT TAFS. LIFR VSBYS DUE TO BLOWING DUST WILL AFFECT KWJF THRU EARLY EVENING...AND THERE IS A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF MVFR VSBYS LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SUN AT KPRB...OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AT ALL THE AIRFIELDS THROUGH SUN. STRONG AND GUSTY W WINDS WILL AFFECT KPMD AND KWJF THRU EARLY THIS EVENING. A STRONG LOW LEVEL OFFSHORE FLOW DEVELOPING TONIGHT WILL LIKELY CAUSE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR AT TIMES FOR KLAX...KLGB...AND KBUR LATE TONIGHT INTO SUN MORNING...WITH GUSTY N WINDS EXPECTED AT KVNY LATER THIS EVENING THRU SUN. KLAX...HI CONFIDENCE IN THE CURRENT TAF WITH VFR CONDITIONS THRU SUN EVENING. N TO NE WINDS UP TO 10 KT ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND SUN MORNING...ALONG WITH LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR FROM ABOUT 11Z-21Z. HOWEVER...THERE IS A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF N WINDS GUSTING TO 20-25 KT AT TIMES LATER THIS EVENING THRU EARLY SUN MORNING. KBUR...HI CONFIDENCE IN THE CURRENT TAF WITH VFR CONDITIONS THRU SUN. N WINDS UP TO 12 KT IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT...ALONG WITH LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR FROM 10Z-19Z DUE TO STRONG NE CANYON WINDS IN THE VICINITY. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). GALE WARNING (SEE LAXMWWLOX). SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY (SEE LAXMWWLOX). HIGH SURF ADVISORY (SEE LAXCFWLOX). MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT (SEE LAXMWSLOX). && PUBLIC...SIRARD/HALL AVIATION...SIRARD SYNOPSIS...SUKUP WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 427 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2013 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-241400- 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- 427 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TONIGHT WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT. GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL COAST...SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES AND THE ANTELOPE VALLEY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT...THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST WITH GUSTY WINDS AFFECTING MOST OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES. ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS...STRONG GALE FORCE WINDS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE OUTER WATERS THIS AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME...A LARGE LONG PERIOD NORTHWESTERLY SWELL WILL COMBINE WITH CHOPPY WIND WAVES TO PRODUCE HIGH SURF CONDITIONS ALONG THE BEACHES OF THE CENTRAL COAST...AS WELL AS DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG ALL BEACHES OF SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * GALE WARNING...............SEE WHUS76 KLOX - MWWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH SURF ADVISORY.........SEE WHUS46 KLOX - CFWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK......SEE FZUS56 KLOX - SRFLOX FOR DETAILS * * MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT...SEE FZUS76 KLOX - MWSLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY GUSTY AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE DIMINISHING. ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST...HIGH SURF CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. BY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK...COMPUTER MODELS ARE INDICATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A SIGNIFICANT SANTA ANA WIND EVENT. THE SITUATION WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY AS THE MODEL SOLUTIONS COULD CHANGE NOTICEABLY BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF NEXT WEEK. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * GALE WARNING...............SEE WHUS76 KLOX - MWWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH SURF ADVISORY.........SEE WHUS46 KLOX - CFWLOX FOR DETAILS * * MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT...SEE FZUS76 KLOX - MWSLOX FOR DETAILS * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. HALL
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
746 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0736 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SANTA CLARITA 34.41N 118.51W
02/23/2013 M61 MPH LOS ANGELES CA TRAINED SPOTTER
A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A GUST OF 61 MPH AT AN
ELEVATION OF 1372 FEET.
&&
SUKUPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
842 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW CASTAIC LAKE 34.57N 118.73W
02/23/2013 M61 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
THE WHITAKER PEAK RAWS SITE MEASURED A NORTHEAST WIND
GUST OF 61 MPH AT AN ELEVATION OF 4117 FEET.
&&
SUKUPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
848 PM PST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NE MONTECITO 34.45N 119.61W
02/23/2013 M60 MPH SANTA BARBARA CA MESONET
MEASURED BY THE MONTECITO HILLS RAWS SENSOR AT AN
ELEVATION OF 1617 FEET.
&&
SUKUPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained weather spotter in the community of Valencia reported northerly winds gusting to 60 MPH.
Strong north to northeast winds were reported in the Santa Monica Mountains. The RAWS sensor at Malibu Hills reported wind gusts as high as 63 MPH. At Laguna Peak, sustained winds of 53 MPH were reported along with gusts to 71 MPH.
Strong north to northeast winds were reported in the Los Angeles county mountains. Some wind gusts observed include: Whitaker Peak (80 MPH), Camp Nine (65 MPH), Chilao (77 MPH), and Mill Creek (61 MPH).
Strong north to northeast winds were reported in the Ventura county mountains. Wind gusts in excess of 70 MPH were reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2013
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: 436922, 436921, 436919, 436920.