A strong winter storm moved across Southwestern California, bringing strong winds and significant flooding to the area. Southerly wind gusts between 60 and 80 MPH were reported in the mountains as well as the Central Coast of Santa Barbara county.
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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.
A strong winter storm moved across Southwestern California, bringing strong winds and significant flooding to the area. Southerly wind gusts between 60 and 80 MPH were reported in the mountains as well as the Central Coast of Santa Barbara county. Due to heavy and intense rainfall, there were numerous reports of flash flooding. The most significant flooding event occurred in the Camarillo Springs area of Ventura county, near the Springs Fire burn scar.
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 Dec 11, 4:20 PM PST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 420 PM PST THU DEC 11 2014 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AND WINDY CONDITIONS TO MUCH OF THE AREA TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH THE STEADIEST RAIN EXPECTED TONIGHT. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AND HIGH ELEVATION SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL. AFTER A LULL OVER THE WEEKEND...ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING WET AND UNSETTLED WEATHER FOR THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT WEEK. && .SHORT TERM (TODAY-SUN)... WELL...TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...THE FOCUS REMAINS ON A POWERFUL COLD FRONT FORECAST TO SWEEP ACROSS THE AREA. 12Z MODELS DID NOT INDICATE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE OVERALL THINKING. THERE WILL BE SOME LIGHT WARM-FRONTAL RAIN THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...THEN THE FRONT WILL TAKE OVER. THE FRONT SHOULD MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL COAST THIS EVENING...ACROSS VENTURA COUNTY AROUND 400 AM FRIDAY...THEN EXITING LOS ANGELES COUNTY BY LATE FRIDAY MORNING. BEHIND THE FRONT...A COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL GENERATE PLENTY OF SHOWERY PRECIPITATION THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING ARE STILL ON TRACK...WITH 1-2 INCHES FOR COASTAL/VALLEY AREAS AND 2-4 INCHES IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL OCCUR RIGHT ALONG THE COLD FRONT WITH HOURLY RATES BETWEEN 0.50 AND 1.00 INCHES. WITH THE SHOWERY ACTIVITY BEHIND THE FRONT...HOURLY AMOUNTS AROUND 0.50 INCHES WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIKELY THROUGH FRIDAY. SO...BURN AREAS WILL BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH FLOODING AND MUD/DEBRIS FLOWS...AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS FROM MIDNIGHT FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. DUE TO SIGNIFICANT LIFT ALONG THE COLD FRONT...THERE WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE COLD FRONT. DUE TO GOOD VERTICAL SHEAR...SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS...INTENSE RAINFALL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF WATERSPOUTS/FUNNEL CLOUDS/WEAK TORNADOES. BEHIND THE FRONT...THE COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT IN THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SEE LAXSPSLOX FOR DETAILS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT WITH THE COLD FRONT. AS FOR WINDS...WITH A TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND STRONG LOWER LEVEL WINDS (50-60 KNOTS AT 850 MB)...STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. WILL EXPECT WARNING LEVEL GUSTS (60-75 MPH) ACROSS ALL MOUNTAIN ZONES... THE ANTELOPE VALLEY AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES. ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE COASTS AND VALLEYS THERE WILL LIKELY BE STRONG ADVISORY-LEVEL WINDS (GUSTS 40-55 MPH) AND ADVISORIES WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THOSE AREAS THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. ON SATURDAY...OTHER THAN A LINGERING SHOWER THREAT OVER THE MOUNTAINS IN THE MORNING...DRY CONDITIONS WILL BE EXPECTED. WITH SOME SUNSHINE...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL BE A LITTLE WARMER. THE DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ON SUNDAY...WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INCHING UP A BIT HIGHER STILL. .LONG TERM (MON-THU)... FOR THE EXTENDED...MODELS ARE IN GOOD SYNOPTIC AGREEMENT THROUGH THE PERIOD. FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...A COUPLE OF STORM SYSTEMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA...BRINGING ANOTHER THREAT OF RAINFALL TO THE AREA. FORTUNATELY...MODELS INDICATE THIS RAINFALL THREAT NEXT WEEK WILL NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR AS INTENSE AS TONIGHT/FRIDAY...BUT STILL A BENEFICIAL AMOUNT. BY THURSDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA. SO...DRY AND WARMER CONDITIONS WILL BE EXPECTED. && .AVIATION...12/0015Z. AT 2335Z...THE INVERSION AT KLAX WAS 4200 FT DEEP. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE BASE OF THE INVERSION WAS 7 DEGREES C. THE TOP OF THE INVERSION WAS AT 5840 FT WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 10 DEGREES C. LOW CONFIDENCE IN THE 00Z TAFS MAINLY DUE TO TIMING BETWEEN FLIGHT CATS WHICH WILL BE SPORADIC THRU THE PERIOD. HOWEVER...THERE IS HI CONFIDENCE OF IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS FOR MOST OF THE TAF PERIOD AT ALL THE AIRFIELDS...ALONG WITH STRONG AND GUSTY SE TO S WINDS TONIGHT INTO FRI MORNING...ALTHO THE STRONG WINDS WILL DIMINISH QUICKLY BEHIND A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT WHICH WILL PASS THRU THE AREA FROM NW TO SE TONIGHT AND EARLY FRI. THE TIMING OF THE INCREASE AND DECREASE OF THE STRONG WINDS MAY BE OFF PLUS/MINUS AN HOUR OR TWO AND WILL DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF THE FRONT AS IT PASSES THRU SWRN CA. KLAX...LOW CONFIDENCE IN THE 00Z TAF MAINLY DUE TO TIMING BETWEEN FLIGHT CATS WHICH WILL BE SPORADIC THRU THE PERIOD. HOWEVER...THERE IS HI CONFIDENCE OF MVFR CONDITIONS FOR MOST OF THE TAF PERIOD AT THE AIRFIELD ALTHO THERE IS A 30-40 PERCENT CHANCE OF IFR CIGS AT TIMES LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRI. THERE WILL ALSO BE STRONG AND GUSTY SE WINDS AS HIGH AS 35 KT TONIGHT INTO FRI MORNING...ALTHO THE STRONG WINDS WILL DIMINISH QUICKLY BEHIND A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT WHICH WILL PASS BY THE AIRFIELD EARLY FRI MORNING. THE TIMING OF THE INCREASE AND DECREASE OF THE STRONG WINDS MAY BE OFF PLUS/MINUS AN HOUR OR TWO AND WILL DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF THE FRONT AS IT PASSES THRU THE AREA. KBUR...LOW CONFIDENCE IN THE 00Z TAF MAINLY DUE TO TIMING BETWEEN FLIGHT CATS WHICH WILL BE SPORADIC THRU THE PERIOD. HOWEVER...THERE IS HI CONFIDENCE OF IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS FOR MOST OF THE TAF PERIOD AT THE AIRFIELD. THERE WILL ALSO BE STRONG AND GUSTY SE TO S WINDS AS HIGH AS 30 KT TONIGHT INTO FRI MORNING...ALTHO THE STRONG WINDS WILL DIMINISH QUICKLY BEHIND A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT WHICH WILL PASS BY THE AIRFIELD EARLY FRI MORNING. THE TIMING OF THE INCREASE AND DECREASE OF THE STRONG WINDS MAY BE OFF PLUS/MINUS AN HOUR OR TWO AND WILL DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF THE FRONT AS IT PASSES THRU THE AREA. && .MARINE...11/145 PM PST... SWELLS WILL FURTHER INCREASE TONIGHT ACROSS THE REGION AND REMAIN HIGH INTO THE WEEKEND. WINDS ACROSS THE OUTER WATERS AND THROUGH THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL WILL ALSO BE INCREASING THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL REMAIN STRONG INTO THE EVENING HOURS. A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE COASTAL WATERS THOUGH A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE INNER WATERS FROM POINT MUGU TO SAN MATEO POINT. WHEN WINDS DIMINISH ON FRIDAY AN ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS WILL STILL BE NEEDED INTO SATURDAY FOR THE LARGE SWELLS. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR WATERSPOUTS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). FLOOD WATCH (SEE LAXFFALOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). GALE WARNING (SEE LAXMWWLOX). SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY (SEE LAXMWWLOX). HIGH SURF ADVISORY (SEE LAXCFWLOX). HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK (SEE LAXSRFLOX). MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT (SEE LAXMWSLOX). SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT (SEE LAXSPSLOX). && PUBLIC...RAT AVIATION...SIRARD MARINE...KJ SYNOPSIS...SUKUP WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 835 AM PST THU DEC 11 2014 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-121400- 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- 835 AM PST THU DEC 11 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TODAY AND TONIGHT HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL AFFECT THE AREA BEACHES TODAY AND TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLE FLOODING TO THE AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE ABOVE 6000 FEET IN VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS THROUGH THIS EVENING. * FLOOD WATCH................SEE WGUS66 KLOX - FFALOX 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 * * SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..SEE WWUS86 KLOX - SPSLOX FOR DETAILS * * WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY....SEE WWUS46 KLOX - WSWLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL AFFECT THE AREA BEACHES THROUGH SATURDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ALL AREAS AND THE WATERS FRIDAY. MORE RAIN...ALTHOUGH LESS INTENSE...IS SLATED FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. * FLOOD WATCH................SEE WGUS66 KLOX - FFALOX 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 * * 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 104 PM PST THU DEC 11 2014 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-121400- 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- 104 PM PST THU DEC 11 2014 ...POTENTIAL FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER DAMAGE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY ACROSS SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA... A POWERFUL COLD FRONT WILL TRACK THROUGH SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY. ALONG THE FRONT...THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR LINES OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY INTENSE RAINFALL...STRONG WINDS...AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OVER 60 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS...INCLUDING COASTAL AND VALLEY COMMUNITIES...CAPABLE OF WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES AS WELL AS DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES. THERE WILL ALSO BE THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS AND SMALL TORNADOES...ESPECIALLY ACROSS COASTAL VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES. RAINFALL RATES COULD BRIEFLY REACH ONE INCH PER HOUR WITH THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...WHICH WOULD PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT URBAN ROADWAY FLOODING AS WELL AS DANGEROUS ROCK AND MUD SLIDE ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION...THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DANGEROUS FLASH FLOODING AND MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN THE RECENT BURN AREAS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES...WHERE FLASH FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT. THE DURATION OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND ANY ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY BE SHORT LIVED...WITH A DURATION LESS THAN TWO HOURS. AT THIS TIME...THE TIMING OF THIS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE THIS EVENING ACROSS THE CENTRAL COAST...SPREADING INTO SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA AND VENTURA COUNTY AFTER MIDNIGHT...FINALLY REACHING THE LOS ANGELES BASIN LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. A COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT...BRINGING A CONTINUED CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS INTO FRIDAY EVENING...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL. RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AS THIS STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM BRINGS A THREAT OF ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER DAMAGE TO SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA. GOMBERG/BOLDT
The Vandenberg AFB radar (KVBX), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:45 UTC.
7 high wind, 7 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong southerly winds developed in the mountains of Santa Barbara county. The sensor at La Cumbre Peak reported wind gusts between 60 and 70 MPH. The sensor at Las Flores Canyon reported sustained winds between 40 and 42 MPH.
Strong southerly winds developed in the mountains of Los Angeles county. Some wind gust reports from the local RAWS network include Camp Nine (gusts 59 to 84 MPH), Chilao (gusts 58 to 64 MPH) and Mill Creek (gusts 62 to 74 MPH).
Strong southerly winds developed in the mountains of Ventura county. Wind gusts between 60 and 70 MPH were reported.
Strong southerly winds developed across the Central Coast of Santa Barbara county. The ASOS at Vandenberg Air Force Base reported wind gusts up to 61 MPH.
Strong southerly winds developed across the Santa Ynez Valley. The sensor at Santa Ynez Airport reported wind gusts between 62 and 64 MPH.
The Branch Mountain sensor reported a southerly wind gust of 58 MPH.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in the community of Guadalupe. Three vehicles were trapped when a roadway flooded due to the heavy rain.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in the community of Santa Maria. At the intersection of State Route 135 and Lakeview Road, over one foot of water trapped several vehicles in the intersection.
Heavy rain generated flash flooding in the community of Isla Vista. Along El Colegio Road, several cars were submerged in flood waters.
Strong southerly winds developed in the Santa Monica Mountains. The RAWS sensor at Malibu Canyon reported wind gusts up to 61 MPH.
Intense rainfall over the Springs Fire burn scar generated flash flooding as well as mud and debris flow in the community of Camarillo Springs. A wall of mud and debris severely damaged ten homes with mud up to the roofs of the homes.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding and mud and debris flows across the Pacific Coast Highway in the community of Malibu. The PCH was closed due to mud and debris from Yerba Buena Street to Tonga Street.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding and mud and debris flows in the community of Simi Valley. Law enforcement reported mud flows across State Route 118 at Keuhner Drive.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding and mud and debris flows near the Colby Fire burn scar in the community of Azusa. Along Rainbow Drive, 6 to 10 feet of mud and degris was reported across the road.
A weak EF0 tornado developed in south Los Angeles. The tornado damaged the roof of an apartment complex, two residential roofs and a steel billboard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for California, 2014Warnings in California, December 2014
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: 553264, 553265, 553266, 553268, 553269, 553263, 553271, 553270, 553272, 553267, 553273, 553274, 553275, 553277, 553278.