Strong north to northeast winds developed in the wake of a cold storm system. Wind gusts as high as 70 MPH were reported across the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
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 north to northeast winds developed in the wake of a cold storm system. Wind gusts as high as 70 MPH were reported across the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
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 Jan 2, 4:45 AM PST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 445 AM PST WED JAN 2 2013 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT BASIN WILL CONTINUE GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS AND A DRY AIR MASS INTO THURSDAY. A COOLER AND MORE MOIST AIR MASS SHOULD DEVELOP OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A LOW PRESSURE AREA APPROACHES THE REGION OVER THE WEEKEND. && .SHORT TERM (TODAY-FRIDAY)... GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING AS STRONG OFFSHORE FLOW DEVELOPS OVER THE AREA. SOME DAMAGING GUSTS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED IN THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING...AND WINDS SHOULD START INCREASING FURTHER AS AN AREA OF SUBSIDENCE OVER THE CENTRAL VALLEY SHIFTS SOUTH INTO THE REGION. NAM-WRF AND LOCAL 4-KM WRF SOLUTIONS HAVE DONE A REASONABLY GOOD JOB WITH THE WINDS...INDICATING A GOOD AMOUNT OF THERMAL ADVECTION AT 950 MB AND 850 MB...WIND SUPPORT AT 850 MB AND 950 MB...AND KLAX-KDAG SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT IN EXCESS OF 6 MB. WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES IN THE INGREDIENTS FOR STRONG WINDS AGAIN TONIGHT AND INTO THURSDAY MORNING...ALL WIND HEADLINES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED FOR PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY. WHERE THE WIND IS NOT BLOWING...A DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE PROVIDED BY THE OFFSHORE FLOW PATTERN WILL ALLOW FOR COLD OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES AND FROST. AREAS SUCH AS THE DESERT...INTERIOR VALLEYS...CENTRAL COAST...AND SANTA YNEZ VALLEY WILL REMAIN COLD DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS THE CLEAR SKIES AND LACK OF WIND ALLOW THE SURFACE TO RADIATE OUT TO SPACE MORE EFFICIENTLY. .LONG TERM (SATURDAY-TUESDAY)... AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH THE AREA OVER THE WEEKEND. RUN-TO-RUN CONSISTENCY AND TIMING ISSUES CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE MODELS AS THE TROUGH WILL CUT OFF FROM THE MEAN FLOW ALOFT. CONFIDENCE IS GROWING FOR SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT TO DEVELOP SATURDAY...POSSIBLY PERMITTING SOME SEMBLANCE OF A MARINE LAYER TO DEVELOP OVER THE WEEKEND. GEFS SOLUTIONS CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST CONSISTENT WITH THE TROUGHS MOVEMENT...AND GFS MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE TO DEEPEN THE TROUGH AS IT APPROACHES THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST. BASED UPON THE OVERALL SYNOPTIC PATTERN...SOME CONCERN IS DEVELOPING FOR A POSSIBLE MINOR TO MODERATE ANTELOPE VALLEY SNOW EVENT FOR EARLY EARLY NEXT WEEK TAKING INTO THE ACCOUNT THE MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE PROBABLY A LITTLE TOO PROGRESSIVE WITH THE CUTOFF TROUGH. UNFORTUNATELY...THE CUTOFF TROUGH WILL LIKELY MAKE FOR A DIFFICULT FORECAST FOR THIS WEEK UNTIL THE TROUGHS CUTOFF FROM THE FLOW EITHER SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. && .AVIATION...02/1240Z. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 24 HOURS.EXCEPT FOR A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIFR CONDITIONS AT KPRB FROM 13Z-17Z. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO STRONG TURBULENCE AND LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR WILL OCCUR AT LAX...KBUR...KVNY...KOXR...KCMA THROUGH THIS MORNING. KLAX...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. PERIODS OF MODERATE TURBULENCE AND LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR WILL OCCUR UP TO 2500 FEET...MAINLY THROUGH 16Z. KBUR...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO STRONG TURBULENCE AND LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR WILL OCCUR UP TO 3000 FEET THROUGH 16Z. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). FROST ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). HIGH SURF ADVISORY (SEE LAXCFWLOX). SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY (SEE LAXMWWLOX). MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT (SEE LAXMWSLOX). HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK (SEE LAXSRFLOX). && PUBLIC...HALL AVIATION...CAK SYNOPSIS...HALL WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 1027 PM PST TUE JAN 1 2013 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-021400- 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- 1027 PM PST TUE JAN 1 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... REST OF TONIGHT A LONG PERIOD SWELL WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES. AN OFFSHORE FLOW EVENT WILL BRING GUSTY WINDS TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TONIGHT...CREATING HAZARDS FOR MOTORISTS DRIVING HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES. POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS. AREAS OF FROST WILL AFFECT THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY LATE TONIGHT. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * FROST ADVISORY.............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK......SEE FZUS56 KLOX - SRFLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY AN OFFSHORE FLOW EVENT WILL BRING GUSTY WINDS TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS...CREATING HAZARDS FOR MOTORISTS DRIVING HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES. AREAS OF FROST ARE EXPECTED IN THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. A LONG PERIOD SWELL WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES. * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * FROST ADVISORY.............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX 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
443 AM PST WED JAN 02 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1149 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ESE FILLMORE 34.37N 118.84W
01/01/2013 M57.00 MPH VENTURA CA MESONET
NORTHEAST WINDS 36 MPH GUSTING TO 57 MPH AT WILEY RIDGE
RAWS...ELEVATION 1645 FEET.
1158 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW MOUNT WILSON 34.19N 118.09W
01/01/2013 M60.00 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
NORTHEAST WINDS 27 MPH GUSTING TO 60 MPH AT HENNINGER
FLATS RAWS...ELEVATION 2800 FEET.
0109 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SW THOUSAND OAKS 34.10N 118.96W
01/02/2013 M56.00 MPH VENTURA CA MESONET
NORTHEAST WINDS 40 MPH GUSTING TO 56 MPH IN THE HILLS
ABOVE MALIBU...ELEVATION 1715 FEET.
0242 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ESE SANTA PAULA 34.33N 119.03W
01/02/2013 M64.00 MPH VENTURA CA MESONET
NORTH WINDS 32 MPH GUSTING TO 64 MPH ON SOUTH
MOUNTAIN...ELEVATION 2350 FEET.
0255 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNE SAN FERNANDO 34.35N 118.42W
01/02/2013 M65.00 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
NORTH WINDS 32 MPH GUSTING TO 65 MPH AT CAMP NINE
RAWS...ELEVATION 4000 FEET.
0353 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 NNE MOUNT WILSON 34.33N 118.03W
01/02/2013 M57.00 MPH LOS ANGELES CA MESONET
NORTHEAST WINDS 47 MPH GUSTING TO 57 MPH AT CHILAO
RAWS...ELEVATION 5450 FEET.
&&
HALL3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong and gusty north to northeast winds were reported across the Santa Monica Mountains. A sensor at Malibu Peak reported sustained winds between 40 and 48 MPH with gusts between 61 and 64 MPH.
Strong and gusty north to northeast winds were reported across the Los Angeles county mountains. Some wind gusts reported by local RAWS stations include: Camp Nine (gusts to 70 MPH), Chilao (gusts to 67 MPH) and Warm Springs (gusts to 60 MPH).
Strong and gusty north to northeast winds were reported across the Ventura county mountains. Wind gusts between 60 and 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, January 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: 431808, 431806, 431807.