Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, February 28, 2014

Name: Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, February 28, 2014
Start: 2014-02-28T07:30
End: 2014-02-28T19:00
Location: California

February 28, 2014 · NWS SGX · 19 events in 8 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $91,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS SGX wrote it up.

A weak, upper-level trough moved through California overnight on February 26th, into the morning of the 27th, increasing gusty west winds and bringing a round of light to moderate showers over and west of the mountains. A much stronger, Pacific low pressure system took aim at southern California late on the 27th, bringing periods of heavy rain and high-elevation mountain snow through the 28th (with additional heavy rain through March 1). Most of the upslope rain and convective showers occurred on the 28th. Strong, long-duration upslope flow enhanced rainfall on southwest-facing coastal slopes. The four-day, storm total precipitation amounts were significant. Costal locations ranged from 1 to 3 inches of rain, with the valleys recording up to 4.5 inches toward the coastal slopes. Mountain locations varied widely depending on slope aspect, but most recorded between 3 and 8 inches of rain. The upper deserts recorded between one-tenth and one-half inch, while the lower deserts measured generally less than one-tenth of an inch. The notable exceptions were Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs in the Coachella Valley and San Felipe in San Diego County, all of which measured between one-half of an inch and one inch. The big rainfall winners were along the southern slopes of the San Bernardino County mountains, with Yucaipa Ridge coming in at 11.11 inches, Lytle Creek with 9.67 inches and Cedar Glen with 9.10 inches. The snow level remained fairly high, around 6000 feet. Most locations saw between 2 and 7 inches of snow, with Big Bear Lake and Onyx Peak recording 9 to 10 inches. The significant rainfall in a relatively short period of time resulted in numerous instances of urban and flash flooding with mud/debris flows, causing numerous road closures and swift water rescues in and around the urban areas of Orange, (Anaheim), San Diego (Escondido and Fashion Valley), and Riverside (Fallbrook to Lake Elsinore) counties. The most significant of these was the mud slides and subsequent road closure of Highway 74 (Ortega Highway) stemming from the Falls Fire burn scar. Many road closures also occurred in the Coachella Valley as a result of heavy rainfall over the headwaters of the Whitewater River, flowing down the valley through the storm channel. Area rivers saw rises of 2 to 5 feet, in some instances within 12 hours. A 10 to 15-foot-tall and eight-foot-wide section of the quarter-mile levee protecting Buckwheat Road from Sheep Creek failed, threatening 8 homes with flood waters. Westerly winds with this system were significant as well, topping numerous large trees and power poles, as well as damage at John Wayne Airport. A report of a 102 mph wind gust came from the Bear Mountain ski resort weather equipment on the 28th. Conditions support this gust, however, no damage was reported. Thunderstorms on the 28th also produced gusty winds, downing several trees and damaging power lines and other structures.

What forecasters said that day

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 San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 4:30 AM PST, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 4:30 AM PST, 3 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
430 AM PST FRI FEB 28 2014

.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG PACIFIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE SLOWLY INLAND THROUGH
CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE WEEKEND BRINGING PERIODS OF HEAVY
PRECIPITATION AND STRONG GUSTY SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS.
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE HEAVIEST AND WINDS STRONGEST TODAY.
FAIR AND DRY WITH SEASONAL TEMPERATURES FOR MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...

&&

.SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)...
A STRONG PACIFIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE SLOWLY INLAND THROUGH
CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE WEEKEND BRINGING PERIODS OF HEAVY
PRECIPITATION AND STRONG GUSTY SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS.
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE HEAVIEST AND WINDS STRONGEST TODAY.
PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR
TONIGHT INTO LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...DECREASING SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING.

WINDS...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE STRONGEST THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING WITH LOCALLY STRONG GUSTY WINDS CONTINUING THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS TODAY.

RAINFALL...RAINFALL TOTALS THROUGH SUNDAY ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM
2 TO 3 INCHES NEAR THE COAST TO 5 TO 8 INCHES ON THE COASTAL
MOUNTAIN SLOPES WITH LOCALLY GREATER AMOUNTS ON THE SOUTH SLOPES OF
THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS. THE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVY
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND RAINFALL RATES TODAY COULD BE SUFFICIENT
TO CAUSE FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY ON COASTAL MOUNTAIN SLOPES AND
NEAR AND DOWNSTREAM OF RECENT BURN AREAS. HIGH INTENSITY RAINFALL
FROM SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ON TOP OF NEWLY SATURATED
SOIL WILL CONTINUE THE FLASH FLOODING THREAT FOR TONIGHT THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

SNOWFALL...SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER FROM 6500 TO 7000 FEET THIS
MORNING...TO 6000 TO 6500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING...AND 5000 TO 5500 FEET FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES ABOVE 6500 FEET WITH
LOCAL AMOUNTS EXCEEDING 4 FEET POSSIBLE ABOVE 7500 TO 8000 FEET.
WIDESPREAD HEAVY SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE ABOVE 7000 FEET   TODAY.
SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BRING PERIODS OF   LOCALLY
HEAVY SNOWFALL FOR TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

&&

.LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...
FAIR AND DRY WITH SEASONAL TEMPERATURES.

&&

.AVIATION...
281007Z...MERGING BKN-OVC CLD LAYERS 3000-15000 FT MSL...WITH
WIDESPREAD LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS...AREAS OF VIS 3-5SM...LOCAL
BKN-OVC CIGS 500-1500 FT MSL...LOCAL VIS AOB 1SM IN HEAVY RAIN...AND
MTN OBSCURATION WILL CONTINUE FOR THE MOST PART THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT. OVER AND W OR SW OF THE MTNS WILL SEE MORE PRECIPITATION
AND VIS RESTRICTIONS THAN THE DESERTS. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO BE POSSIBLE STARTING AT 1800 UTC. THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE
STRONG DOWNDRAFT WINDS...SMALL HAIL...VIS AOB 1SM...AND CB TOPS TO
30000 FT MSL. ALSO...WIDESPREAD S TO SW SFC WINDS 15-30 KT WITH
GUSTS 40-50 KT WILL OCCUR FROM 1500 UTC THROUGH 01/0300 UTC...WITH
WINDS LESSENING THEREAFTER. SPECIFICALLY...KSAN...KCRQ...KSNA AND
KONT ALL LIKELY TO SEE 30 KT SFC WIND GUSTS TODAY. MTN WAVES WILL
PRODUCE STG-SVR UDDFS/LLWS/ROTORS OVER AND E OR NE OF THE MTNS.

&&

.MARINE...
A STRONG PACIFIC STORM WILL CREATE STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST
WINDS...PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN...POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS
WITH WATERSPOUTS...AND LARGE ROUGH SEAS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS
TODAY AND SATURDAY. SEE THE MARINE WEATHER
STATEMENT...LAXMWSSGX...FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE THUNDERSTORM AND
WATERSPOUT THREAT. WIND GUSTS WILL LIKELY REACH GALE-FORCE STRENGTH
WITH THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE TODAY AND SO A GALE WARNING IS IN
EFFECT. SEE LAXMWWSGX FOR MORE DETAILS. WINDS WILL WEAKEN SATURDAY
AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY.

LATEST WAVE WATCH 3 RUN CONTINUES TO SHOW 17 FOOT WEST-SOUTHWEST
SWELLS WITH 15 SECOND PERIODS AT THE SAN CLEMENTE BASIN BUOY FOR
SATURDAY...AND SWAN MODEL SHOWS SWELL HEIGHTS OF 10-12 FEET REACHING
MOST COASTAL LOCATIONS. THUS...SURF OF 10-12 FEET...WITH SETS TO 15
FEET...IS LIKELY ON SATURDAY...WITH HIGH SURF CONTINUING ON SUNDAY
AS THE SWELLS LOWER. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY WILL GO INTO EFFECT EARLY
SATURDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE ORANGE AND
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BEACHES. ALSO...HIGH TIDES THIS MORNING AND
SATURDAY MORNING ARE PREDICTED AT 6.5-6.7 FEET. HOWEVER...THE ACTUAL
HIGH TIDES ARE LIKELY TO BE AT LEAST A 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN
PREDICTED DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF STORM SURGE. THESE TIDES...IN
ADDITION TO ELEVATED SURF ON FRIDAY AND LARGE SURF ON
SATURDAY...STRONG ONSHORE WINDS...AND RAINFALL RUN-OFF...WILL LIKELY
BRING WIDESPREAD MINOR COASTAL FLOODING AND POSSIBLY FLOODING THAT
COULD CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INUNDATE VULNERABLE LOW-LYING
BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES ALONG THE BEACHES. DUE TO THIS THREAT...A
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING GOES INTO EFFECT THIS MORNING AND CONTINUES
THROUGH SATURDAY. SEE LAXCFWSGX FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE HIGH SURF
AND COASTAL FLOODING HAZARDS. SURF AND SEA CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO
IMPROVE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

HIGH SURF IS LIKELY TO OCCUR AGAIN LATE TUESDAY THROUGH AT LEAST
WEDNESDAY AS A LARGE LONG-PERIOD WEST-NORTHWEST SWELL ARRIVES TO THE
COAST.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
A STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL MOVE
SLOWLY INLAND THROUGH SUNDAY BRINGING PERIODS OF LOCALLY HEAVY
PRECIPITATION. RAINFALL TOTALS THROUGH SUNDAY ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE
FROM 2 TO 3 INCHES NEAR THE COAST TO 5 TO 8 INCHES ON THE COASTAL
MOUNTAIN SLOPES WITH LOCALLY GREATER AMOUNTS ON THE SOUTH SLOPES OF
THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS NEAR 6500 TO 7000
FEET THIS MORNING WILL LOWER TO AROUND 6000 TO 6500 FEET FOR TONIGHT
THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...AND 5000 TO 5500 FEET SATURDAY AFTERNOON
INTO SUNDAY. SNOWFALL OF 10 TO 20 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ABOVE 6500 FEET
AND COULD LOCALLY EXCEED 4 FEET ABOVE 7500 TO 8000 FEET.

RELATIVELY LIGHT RAINFALL TOTALS OVERNIGHT FROM STRATIFORM WARM
FRONTAL PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE MARKEDLY AROUND DAYBREAK TODAY
AS SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS BECOME SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AND
STRENGTHEN...BRINGING STRONG OROGRAPHIC LIFT TO A SUBTROPICAL PLUME
OF MOISTURE. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE
AT TIMES FROM THIS MORNING INTO THIS AFTERNOON ON SOUTH FACING
SLOPES OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE
AT TIMES FOR TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. COLDER MID LEVEL AIR WILL
DESTABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE BRINGING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS
FOR THIS AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY.

THE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND RAINFALL RATES
TODAY COULD BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY ON
COASTAL MOUNTAIN SLOPES AND NEAR AND DOWNSTREAM OF RECENT BURN
AREAS. HIGH INTENSITY RAINFALL FROM SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS ON TOP OF NEWLY SATURATED SOIL WILL CONTINUE THE FLASH
FLOODING THREAT FOR TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

&&

.SKYWARN...
SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED TODAY FOR ALL COUNTIES. PLEASE SEND
REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS...WIND DAMAGE...RAINFALL TOTALS...SNOWFALL
TOTALS...FLOODING...DEBRIS FLOWS...AND ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER.

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 AM PST SATURDAY FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
     COASTAL AREAS.

     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST SATURDAY FOR THE APPLE AND
     LUCERNE VALLEYS...COACHELLA VALLEY...RIVERSIDE COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN DIEGO
     COUNTY DESERTS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 6 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE
     SATURDAY NIGHT FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...
     RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE
     INLAND EMPIRE...SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...SAN DIEGO
     COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS...SANTA ANA
     MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 3 AM PST SUNDAY ABOVE 6500 FEET FOR
     THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY
     COASTAL AREAS...SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY
     VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE...SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL
     AREAS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS...SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND
     FOOTHILLS.

     COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM PST SUNDAY
     FOR THE BEACHES IN THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...SAN
     DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY FROM 4 AM SATURDAY TO 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR
     THE BEACHES IN THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...SAN DIEGO
     COUNTY COASTAL AREAS.

PZ...GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 AM PST SATURDAY FOR THE COASTAL WATERS
     FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER AND OUT 30 NM...
     WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER EXTENDING 30
     TO 60 NM OUT INCLUDING SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND.

&&

PUBLIC...17
AVIATION/MARINE...HARRISON

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 28, 4:44 AM PST, 2 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
444 AM PST FRI FEB 28 2014

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0251 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 13 ESE BIG BEAR CITY    34.21N 116.62W
02/28/2014  M58 MPH          SAN BERNARDINO     CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION BURNS CANYON /BCNC1/

&&

NWS SAN DIEGO CA
IRIS SYSTEM

The radar

The San Diego radar (KNKX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 5 high wind, 4 flood, 2 flash flood, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When: February 28, 7:30 AM PST to 4:30 PM PST
Where: Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Sierra Peak mesonet reported high winds between 0730-1630 PST on the 28th, with a peak gust of 69 mph recorded between 0904-1004 PST. The El Cariso RAWS also reported a peak gust of 70 mph between 1520 and 1620 PST that afternoon.

Flood, Orange

When: February 28, 8:00 AM PST to 11:00 AM PST
Where: Orange County, 1.7 mi NW of Seal Beach to 0.9 mi SSW of Sunset Beach
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.748, -118.120

A spotter in Seal Beach reported street flooding around 6 inches deep at the intersection of Anderson and Pacific Coast Highway. Skywarn also relayed a report of street flooding along Tustin Avenue. Fire department reported a swift water rescue in a storm drain at Placentia and Crowther Avenues, just north of Anaheim.

Flood, San Diego

When: February 28, 9:00 AM PST to 2:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County, 4.3 mi NNW of Chappo to 4.84 mi WNW of Del Dios
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.374, -117.386

CHP reported road closed at Huffstatler Road and Old 395 at 5th Street due to flooding. A spotter reported a debris flow at Woods Valley Road and Wolford Road with six inch rocks. A county official reported water flowing over Country Club Drive in west Escondido where the road goes into Escondido Creek.

Flood, San Diego

When: February 28, 9:00 AM PST to 6:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County, 0.98 mi S of La Jolla to 1.65 mi E of Camp Elliot
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 32.836, -117.268

An NWS employee reported 7 inches of standing water at the intersection of Ingraham Street and La Playa Avenue in Pacific Beach. Local tv news showed footage of water running across Quarry Road in Spring Valley. NBC media showed video of 6 inches deep of flowing water on Dairy Mart Road in Imperial Beach. This area drains from the Tijuana River.

Debris Flow, San Bernardino

When: February 28, 9:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County, 1.35 mi SE of Scotland to 1.81 mi SW of Colton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.237, -117.482

CHP closed Highway 18 from Snow Valley to Big Bear due to minor flooding and rock debris. A spotter reported a heavy debris flow along Highway 18 near the Arrowbear area. Arrowbear music camp will be blocked off. Another spotter reported 5 inches of water running down the street in his North San Bernardino neighborhood. The Press Enterprise in Riverside reported streets and parking lots flooded in the Redlands area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When: February 28, 10:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: Orange County, Tustin
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.730, -117.820

A tree landed on the roof of home in Tustin on Green Valley Drive from strong winds in line of heavy rain with embedded thunder.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Bernardino

When: February 28, 10:00 AM PST to 11:00 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino County, 8 mi SW of Big Bear Lake
Measured: 48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.168, -116.999

Firefigthers responded to a call of a 70-foot pine tree fallen on home and vehicle, with power lines knocked out. The leading line of heavy rain was moving through at the time with several lightning strikes in the western San Bernadino mountains between 10 am to 11 am on the same line of storms. The tree blocked the street.

Flash Flood, Riverside

When: February 28, 11:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Riverside County, 1.5 mi WSW of Lakeland Vlg to 2.34 mi NE of Lakeland Vlg
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.623, -117.374

Riverside County OES reported Ortega Highway (Hwy 74) closed due to debris flow of mud around the Falls Fire burn scar. A sink hole was also reported on Grand Avenue.

Flood, Riverside

When: February 28, 11:00 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: Riverside County, 1.36 mi NE of Cathedral City to 1.12 mi W of Cathedral City
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.784, -116.454

KESQ media Palm Springs reports and had photos of several road closures due to flooding in washes including: Araby Drive, Golf Club Drive, Indian Canyon, Vista Chino and Gene Autry. These road closures were caused by flooding due to heavy rainfall in the adjacent mountains.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Bernardino

When: February 28, 11:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County, San Bernardino
Measured: 48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.130, -117.300

The Press Enterprise reported a large tree fallen on North Macy Street in San Bernardino, crushing the front of a car. A line of showers with lightning was crossing the mountains and high deserts at the time. |Nearby, in Fontana, an emergency manager reported a roof collapse due to the gusty wind and rain.

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When: February 28, 12:00 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred at the Boucher Hill mesonet site between 1200-1700 PST on the 28th, with most gusts over 60 mph. During this period, a peak gust of 82 mph was measured between 1517-1527 PST. A few other gusts of 58-60 mph were recorded a little before and after the main high wind period as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Diego

When: February 28, 12:00 PM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County, 0.32 mi WNW of Ocean Beach to 2.56 mi WNW of San Diego Muni Brown
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.732, -117.235

Fox 5 news reported a large tree down in Ocean Beach. San Diego Lindbergh ASOS had a gust of 45 mph at the time. This storm was on the southern end of a squall line (no lightning detected), so possible wet microburst mixing down 50 mph winds at 1 to 2 kft. The same news station reported a 50-year-old tree downed by high winds near downtown San Diego around the same time. Several other trees were downed in the area with this line as well.

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When: February 28, 12:00 PM PST to 2:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred at the Harrison Park mesonet between 1200 and 1400 PST on the 28th. During this time, a peak gust of 64 mph was recorded twice between 1300 and 1400 PST. A peak gust of 73 mph occurred at the Pauma Valley mesonet between 1200 and 1300 PST.

High Wind, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When: February 28, 2:00 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred at the Burns Canyon RAWS between 1351-1651 PST on the 28th. During this time, several gusts over 60 mph were recorded, including the peak gust of 71 mph, measured between 1351-1451 PST.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Diego

When: February 28, 2:00 PM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County, 1.14 mi NW of (Myf)mntgmry Fld San
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.831, -117.145

CBS8 had video of a large tree down on the Cadillac dealership in Kearny Mesa. Nearby mesonet stations showed gusts 45 to 50 mph from 1300-1630 PST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When: February 28, 2:30 PM PST to 4:30 PM PST
Where: Orange County, (Sna)santa Ana Co Ar
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 33.680, -117.870

John Wayne Airport officials reported a plane moved 3 feet from severe wind, several metal signs down and jet bridge damage. ASOS had 35 mph for a peak wind at the time, though it was likely a wet microburst as seen on radar. Downstream, wind measured at the Fremont Canyon RAWS site at 74 mph one hour later.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Diego

When: February 28, 4:00 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County, Chula Vista
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 32.630, -117.080

ABC news 10 reported straight line winds estimated at 60 mph, which brought down a large tree onto a condominium in Chula Vista. A nearby mesonet station at Coronado Cays recorded a wind gust of 58 mph, though radar showed an intense line segment overhead to support a wet microburst of stronger winds aloft.

High Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: February 28, 4:15 PM PST to 5:15 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Highland Springs RAWS measured a peak gust of 65 mph from a line of thunderstorms between 1616 and 1716 PST on the 28th.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When: February 28, 5:00 PM PST to 7:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County, 2.46 mi NE of Wrightwood to 2.12 mi NNE of Wrightwood
Cause: Dam / Levee Break
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.370, -117.594

San Bernardino County Fire is reporting a levee failure along Sheep Creek near the intersection of Buckwheat Road and Manzanita Road in Pinon Hills. Eight homes were threatened and those eight families were evacuated due to the flooding threat. County fire department set up sandbags around all the homes and all were spared from flood damage. Consistent heavy rain over the area throughout the day, resulted in Sheep Creek running over the road at the intersection of Sheep Creek Road and Lone Pine Canyon Road. This intersection was closed and 8-hour rainfall total was 5 inches.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Debris Flow: A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in California, February 2014

Sources

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: 500596, 500568, 500591, 500592, 504139, 500594, 500701, 500574, 500590, 500702, 500704, 500705, 500707, 500703, 500708, 500593, 500709, 500595, 500564.