Strong surface high pressure in the Great Basin generated strong and gusty north to northeast winds across sections of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The strongest winds were reported in the mountains of Los Angeles county as well as the eastern valleys of Ventura county.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 surface high pressure in the Great Basin generated strong and gusty north to northeast winds across sections of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The strongest winds were reported in the mountains of Los Angeles county as well as the eastern valleys of Ventura county. Additionally, the northeast winds reached offshore to Catalina Island and resulted in the death of two people, including one harbor patrolman.
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 30, 3:50 PM PST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 350 PM PST TUE DEC 30 2014 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... A COLD LOW WILL BRING POSSIBLE PRECIPITATION AND BLUSTERY WINDS INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY WITH TEMPERATURES TO DIP FURTHER BELOW NORMAL. THE SUNRISE TEMPERATURES OF NEW YEARS DAY WILL BE THE COLDEST OF THE WEEK. A HIGH WILL ARRIVE BY FRIDAY AND DOMINATE THE WEATHER INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES STARTING SUNDAY. && .SHORT TERM (TODAY-FRI)...COLD UPPER LOW DROPPING SOUTH THROUGH NEVADA THIS AFTERNOON. FINALLY STARTING TO GET A LITTLE SHOWER ACTIVITY DEVELOPING ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE LA BASIN AND EVEN OVER INTERIOR SLO COUNTY AS WE GET SOME BRIEF UPSLOPE FLOW INTERACTING WITH THE LOW LVL MOIST LAYER BEFORE THE NORTHEAST FLOW TAKES OVER LATER THIS EVENING AND DRIES THINGS OUT. THE TRACK OF THE UPPER LOW IS A BIT FURTHER EAST THAN MODELS HAD SHOWN A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND EXPLAINS THE DECREASE IN MOISTURE NEAR THE LOW ITSELF. STILL SEEMS LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH LINGERING MOISTURE OUT IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY ALONG WITH THE NORTHEAST FLOW TO GET SOME ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS, THOUGH GUIDANCE POPS ARE ALL UNDER 20. PROBABLY THE BEST CHANCE OUT THERE WILL BE IN THE FAR SOUTHEASTERN FOOTHILLS NEAR THE SBD COUNTY LINE WHERE SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS COULD STILL OCCUR. SAME WITH THE ADJACENT EASTERN SAN GABRIELS NEAR THE WRIGHTWOOD AREA AND WILL BE LEAVING THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN TACT THERE. ELSEWHERE JUST ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS WITH AMOUNTS UNDER A TENTH OF AN INCH. OTHERWISE, SCREAMING MESSAGE FOR US WITH THIS EVENT WILL BE THE WIND TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOLLOWED BY COLD OVERNIGHT LOWS. THE WIND TONIGHT WILL KEEP TEMPS MODERATED IN MANY LOWER ELEVATION AREAS, THOUGH AV WILL DROP TO AROUND 20, WITH MID 20S IN THE INTERIOR SLO COUNTY. OJAI AND CENTRAL COAST ALSO EXPECTED TO SEE FREEZING TEMPS SINCE THOSE ARE SOMEWHAT PROTECTED FROM NE WINDS. WINDS MOSTLY EXPECTED TO BE IN THE ADVISORY RANGE ACROSS LA/VENTURA COUNTIES, BUT COULD SEE SOME ISOLATED 60 MPH GUSTS IN OUR FAVORITE WINDY SPOTS IN THE LA MTNS AND PLACES LIKE WILEY RIDGE AND LAGUNA PEAK. WINDS EXPECTED TO DROP OFF IN THE AFTERNOON AS USUAL. NEW YEARS EVE AND MORNING OFFSHORE GRADIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHTER AND SHOULD ALLOW MANY AREAS TO DROP TO NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING, INCLUDING AROUND THE ROSE PARADE AREA, AND FREEZE AND HARD FREEZES WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT. HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE JUST ENOUGH OFFSHORE BREEZE TO MODERATE SOME AREAS LIKE PORTIONS OF COASTAL VENTURA COUNTY. ANOTHER COLD NIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT AND EXPECT FREEZE AND HARD FREEZES IN MANY OF THE SAME PLACES AS NEW YEARS DAY. OTHERWISE, DRY AND CLEAR WITH DAYTIME HIGHS 5-10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. .LONG TERM (SAT-TUE)...PRETTY QUIET PATTERN. STILL CHILLY NIGHTS THROUGH THE WEEKEND BUT WARMING DAYTIME HIGHS TO NEAR OR EVEN SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL BY SUNDAY. BY MONDAY AND TUESDAY LOOKS FOR HIGHS WELL INTO THE 70S MOST LOWER ELEVATIONS AREAS UNDER CLEAR SKIES. && .AVIATION...30/234Z. COLD UPPER LOW BRINGING ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS TO THE REGION THROUGH THIS EVENING. MOSTLY VFR CIGS BUT POCKETS OF MVFR CIGS WITH SHOWER ACTVITY. NORTHEAST WINDS ON THE INCREASE DURING NEXT FEW HOURS WITH STRONGEST BURST OF WINDS GENERALLY BETWEEN 04Z/12Z. DURING THIS TIME...THERE WILL BE STRENGTHENING UPPER LEVEL WIND SUPPORT THAT WILL INCREASE REPORTS OF LLWS AND TURBULENCE...INCLUDING KLAX...KLGB...AND KBUR. POSSIBLE LLWS AT KVNY AND KOXR AS WELL. NORTHEAST WIND COMPONENT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY TOMORROW BUT WINDS SPEEDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS STRONG. KLAX...MVFR TO VFR CEILINGS WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH DRYING TREND OVERNIGHT AS NORTHEAST FLOW INCREASES. MAIN CONCERN TONIGHT WILL BE INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WITH STRONGEST BURST EXPECTED BETWEEN 06Z AND 12Z. DURING THIS TIME...THERE IS INCREASING CONFIDENCE THAT GUSTS UP TO 25 KT WITH LLWS WILL OCCUR. KBUR...MVFR TO VFR CEILINGS WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH DRYING TREND OVERNIGHT AS NORTHEAST FLOW INCREASES. MAIN CONCERN TONIGHT WILL BE INCREASING NORTHEAST WINDS WITH STRONGEST BURST EXPECTED BETWEEN 04Z AND 12Z. DURING THIS TIME...THERE IS INCREASING CONFIDENCE THAT GUSTS UP TO 25 KT WITH LLWS WILL OCCUR. SLIGHT CHANCE OF GUSTS UP TO 35 KT DUE TO FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL WIND SUPPORT. && .MARINE...30/200 PM. HIGH CONFIDENCE WITH CURRENT SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES FOR THE OUTER WATERS THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. INNER WATERS SO CAL BIGHT...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE INNER WATERS BETWEEN VENTURA TO SANTA MONICA AND THE SAN PEDRO CHANNEL TO AVALON HARBOR. EXPECT NE WINDS 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 KT. STRONGEST LATE THIS EVENING TO AROUND MIDNIGHT. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE AND HARD FREEZE WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). FREEZE AND HARD FREEZE WATCH (SEE LAXNPWLOX). WIND ADVISORY (SEE LAXNPWLOX). WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY (SEE LAXWSWLOX). SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY (SEE LAXMWWLOX). MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT (SEE LAXMWSLOX). HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK (SEE LAXSRFLOX). && PUBLIC...MW AVIATION/MARINE...GOMBERG/SWEET SYNOPSIS...SETO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 600 AM PST TUE DEC 30 2014 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-311400- 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 TUE DEC 30 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP LATER TODAY AND LAST LATE INTO THE NIGHT. SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL AFFECT THE MOUNTAINS AND THE ANTELOPE VLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY....SEE WWUS46 KLOX - WSWLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY FREEZING TEMPS WILL OCCUR OVER MANY AREAS BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS. * FREEZE WATCH...............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. RORKE
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong north to northeast winds impacted the mountains of Los Angeles county. Some wind gusts reported by local RAWS and ASOS stations included Chilao (gusts 58 to 70 MPH), Sandberg (gusts 59 MPH) and Warm Springs (gusts 62 MPH).
Strong north to northeast winds impacted the coastal valleys of Ventura county. The RAWS sensor at Wiley Ridge reported wind gusts between 61 and 68 MPH.
Strong north to northeast winds impacted the Santa Monica Mountains. The RAWS sensor at Malibu Hills reported wind gusts between 59 and 78 MPH.
Strong northeast winds developed across Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island. Sustained winds of 36 MPH with gusts to 43 MPH generated very steep and rough waves (4 to 8 feet). The combination of the wind and waves broke the moorings off of several boats and caused other damage. A harbor patrolman was crushed between a boat and some rocks. Another person was found dead, floating in the water.
Strong north to northeast winds impacted the Santa Clarita Valley. The RAWS sensor at Newhall Pass reported wind gusts of 62 MPH.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Catalina Island | 2014-12-30 | 39 | Male | In Water | Direct |
| Strong Wind, Catalina Island | 2014-12-30 | 53 | Male | In Water | Indirect |
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: 553297, 553296, 553294, 553293, 553295.