A strong north to northeast surface pressure gradient generated gusty north to northeast winds across sections of Southern California. Wind gusts up to 80 MPH were reported in the local mountains.
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 north to northeast surface pressure gradient generated gusty north to northeast winds across sections of Southern California. Wind gusts up to 80 MPH were reported in the local mountains.
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 21, 9:40 AM PST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 940 AM PST SUN DEC 21 2014 .SYNOPSIS... SKIES WILL BE PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY TODAY. A FEW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE ON NORTHERN MOUNTAIN SLOPES. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WILL BRING WARMER AND DRY CONDITIONS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. GUSTY NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS WILL AFFECT PARTS OF THE REGION THROUGH TONIGHT...THEN NORTHEAST WINDS WILL AFFECT VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. COOLER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR CHRISTMAS DAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND. && .UPDATE...ADJUSTED CLOUD COVER AND TEMPERATURES FOR TODAY. STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT STREAMING HIGH CLOUDS AND GENERATING A SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN WAVE AND ADDITIONAL CLOUD COVER FOR VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES. THIS WILL LIMIT TEMPERATURES FROM REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL PEAK IF UNDER FULL SUNSHINE ON THIS SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR AND BEGINNING OF WINTER. NORTH WINDS REMAIN GUSTY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WITH GUSTS 50-55 MPH AT WHITAKER PEAK AND SANDBERG. WINDS HAVE LET UP IN OTHER AREAS BUT EXPECT GUSTY CONDITIONS TO REDEVELOP THIS EVENING AND INTO THE NIGHT. NORTHERLY GRADIENTS REMAIN ROBUST INTO MONDAY MORNING WITH LAX-SFO AT -7.7 MB...THEN NORTHEASTERLY GRADIENTS START TO INCREASE TOMORROW AS WELL. ANTICIPATE MOST AREAS WILL DROP WIND ADVISORIES MONDAY MORNING BUT ADDITIONAL ADVISORIES FOR NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BE HOISTED FOR MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. STILL SEEING A FEW TIPS OF THE RAIN BUCKET ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND THIS SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY. ALSO HAVE PATCHY DENSE FOG IN THE SALINAS RIVER VALLEY WHICH SHOULD RETURN AGAIN TONIGHT. THE NORTHERLY JET STREAM SHIFTS EASTWARD ON MONDAY AND MODEL DATA SHOWS LESS CLOUD COVER...EXCEPT FOR SOME LINGERING UPSLOPE ON THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS. WITH LESS CLOUD COVER AND DOWNSLOPE WINDS TOMORROW...TEMPERATURES WILL BE 6-10 DEGREES WARMER ON MONDAY. ***FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION*** OFFSHORE W-E GRADIENTS WILL INCREASE MON NIGHT/TUE...AND THE LATEST MODELS...WITH A TROUGH IN THE ROCKIES NOW DIGGING A BIT FARTHER WESTWARD...SHOW MORE IN THE WAY OF SUPPORT FOR GUSTY NE WINDS ACROSS L.A. AND VTU COUNTIES MON NIGHT/TUE. AT THIS POINT...IT APPEARS THAT WIND ADVISORIES WILL BE NEEDED FOR PORTIONS OF L.A./VTU COUNTIES. THE LATEST MODELS ALSO SHOW SOME HEIGHT/THICKNESS FALLS AND SOME COOLING AT 850 MB AND 950 MB. THIS MAY ACTUALLY BRING SOME SLIGHT COOLING EVEN TO AREAS W OF THE MTNS ON TUE. HAVE KNOCKED A FEW DEGREES OFF FORECAST MAX TEMPS FOR TUE...ESPECIALLY IN THE VLYS. .LONG TERM (WED-SAT)...THE UPPER HIGH TO THE SW OF THE REGION WILL HOLD INTO WED...ALTHOUGH IT WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN. OFFSHORE FLOW AND SOME LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS IN THE MORNING WILL TURN ONSHORE IN THE AFTERNOON. MAX TEMPS MAY BE DOWN A COUPLE OF DEGREES ON WED...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST. A TROUGH WILL ZIP THROUGH THE PAC NW LATE WED INTO THU...CAUSING DECENT HEIGHT FALLS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...AND INCREASING ONSHORE FLOW. EXPECT MAX TEMPS TO BE DOWN SEVERAL DEGREES ON THU...DOWN TO NEAR OR POSSIBLY SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL LEVELS. ANY RAIN WILL REMAIN FAR TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. AS THE TROUGH MOVES QUICKLY EWD...HEIGHTS WILL SLOWLY RISE OVER THE FCST AREA FRI AND SAT...SO EXPECT A GRADUAL WARMING TREND. && .AVIATION...21/1735Z... AT 1725Z...THERE WAS A INVERSION BASED AT 1700 FEET WITH A TOP OF 3600 FEET AND A TEMP OF 16 CELSIUS. OVERALL...MODERATE TO HIGH CONFIDENCE IN 18Z TAF PACKAGE. IN IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM CIG/VSBY RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE AT KPRB AND KLGB...BUT THESE RESTRICTIONS SHOULD DISSIPATE QUICKLY AFTER 18Z. FOR THE BALANCE OF TODAY AND TONIGHT...NORTH TO NORTHEAST FLOW SHOULD KEEP MOST SITES VFR...WITH THE ONLY EXCEPTION EXPECTED TO BE KPRB WHERE ANOTHER ROUND OF VLIFR CONDS IS EXPECTED (WITH MODERATE CONFIDENCE). AS FOR WINDS...THE NORTHERLY FLOW SHOULD PRODUCE SOME MODERATE LLWS/TURBULENCE AT KSBA THIS EVENING. KLAX...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN 18Z TAF. KBUR...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN 18Z TAF. THERE IS A 20% CHANCE OF LIGHT LLWS/TURBULENCE. && .MARINE...21/920 AM... FOR THE OUTER WATERS...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN CURRENT FORECAST. NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE TO GALE FORCE THIS AFTERNOON FROM POINT SAL DOWN TO SAN NICOLAS ISLAND...WITH SOLID SMALL CRAFT LEVEL WINDS NORTH OF POINT SAL. THE GALE FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...BEFORE DIMINISHING SLOWLY TO SMALL CRAFT LEVELS. BY TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS. FOR THE INNER WATERS...MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN WINDS REMAINING BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVELS. THERE IS A CHANCE OF WINDS INCREASING TO SMALL CRAFT LEVELS THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING ACROSS THE WESTERN SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL AS WELL AS THE NEAR SHORE WATERS FROM POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS TO POINT SAL. ALSO THERE IS A CHANCE OF SMALL CRAFT LEVEL NORTHEAST WINDS TUESDAY MORNING FROM VENTURA SOUTH TO SANTA MONICA. && .BEACHES...21/920 AM... A LARGE SWELL WITH A DIRECTION OF 290-300 DEGREES AND A LONG PERIOD (18 SECONDS) GENERATED BY A DISTANT STORM IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL CONTINUE TO BRING VERY HIGH SURF TO AREA BEACHES TODAY. THE SURF WILL NOT BE A HIGH AS IT WAS SATURDAY AND THE SURF ACROSS THE LA BEACHES WILL BE JUST BELOW HIGH SURF CRITERIA. THE SURF AND SWELL WILL SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH THE DAY. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY (SEE LAXCFWLOX). 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). && PUBLIC...EB/DB AVIATION/MARINE...RAT SYNOPSIS...DB WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 600 AM PST SUN DEC 21 2014 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-221400- 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- 600 AM PST SUN DEC 21 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TODAY AND TONIGHT LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY. THIS WILL PRODUCE HIGH SURF CONDITIONS ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST AS WELL AS WEST FACING BEACHES OF VENTURA COUNTY TODAY INTO TONIGHT. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION...AND MINOR COASTAL FLOODING NEAR TIMES OF MORNING HIGH TIDE. THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ON ALL AREA BEACHES TODAY AND TONIGHT. GALE FORCE NORTHWEST WINDS WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE OUTER WATERS TODAY AND TONIGHT. GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE SANTA YNEZ RANGE...THE ADJACENT SOUTH COAST OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS...THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR...THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS...AND PORTIONS OF THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS TODAY AND TONIGHT. * COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT...SEE WHUS46 KLOX - CFWLOX 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 * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY GUSTY NORTHEAST WIND WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL BECOME WARMER AND VERY DRY. GALE FORCE WINDS WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE OUTER WATERS MONDAY MORNING. THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ON ALL AREA BEACHES MONDAY. * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * GALE WARNING...............SEE WHUS76 KLOX - MWWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK......SEE FZUS56 KLOX - SRFLOX FOR DETAILS * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong northerly winds developed across the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles county. The RAWS sensor at Malibu Hills reported wind gusts between 65 and 80 MPH.
Strong northerly winds developed across the mountains of Los Angeles county. The RAWS sensor at Camp Nine reported wind gusts of 59 MPH.
Strong northerly winds developed across the mountains of Ventura county. Wind gusts up to 60 MPH were reported.
Strong northerly winds developed across the south coast of Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported wind gusts between 60 and 80 MPH.
Strong northerly winds developed across the south coast of Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported wind gusts between 60 and 80 MPH.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 553288, 553286, 553287, 553284, 553285.