8 inches) helped initiate thunderstorms in easterly steering flow along and just west of the mountain ridgeline. An upper-level trough enhanced thunderstorm intensity and coverage on the afternoon of the 4th and morning of the 5th.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 SGX wrote it up.
An inverted upper-level trough lifted north from Baja, Mexico, and along with significant moisture flux (PW of 1.8 inches) helped initiate thunderstorms in easterly steering flow along and just west of the mountain ridgeline. An upper-level trough enhanced thunderstorm intensity and coverage on the afternoon of the 4th and morning of the 5th. Subsidence behind the upper-level wave acted to suppress convection for the latter half of the 5th. Rainfall on the 4th was mainly confined to the Riverside and San Diego County mountains, with amounts of one-tenth to one-half inch in general, and up to 1.5 inches under the heaviest cells in San Diego County. Flooding was reported along Interstate 15 north of Victorville and along National Trails Highway, as well SR 247 washed out at Reche Road, north of Yucca Valley. Activity on the 5th was concentrated farther north in the San Bernardino County mountains, upper deserts and Coachella Valley. Cells in these areas generally produced amounts of one-third of an inch, to just over one inch of rain, with locally higher amounts in the higher mountain locations. Over the two days, a spotter in Onyx Peak reported over 3 inches of rain and damage to dirt roads on their property. Thunderstorm winds also damaged two structures near Yucaipa, damaging the roof of one and collapsing the other completely.
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 Jul 4, 9:02 AM PST, 3 hours 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1002 AM PDT FRI JUL 4 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
AN INFLUX OF MONSOONAL MOISTURE WILL BRING INCREASING CHANCES FOR
MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE
MOUNTAINS...DESERTS...AND INLAND VALLEYS. THE MAIN THREAT TODAY FROM
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN ADDITION TO LIGHTNING
WITH INCREASING CHANCES FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH
FLOODING SATURDAY. THE CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THROUGH AT
LEAST THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
AT 9AM PDT...MORNING CLOUDS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO SCATTER OUT
ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTLINE. DUE TO THE BUILDING RIDGE OF HIGH
PRESSURE ALOFT...THE MARINE TEMPERATURE INVERSION HEIGHT OF AROUND
1000 FT MSL...WHICH IS MUCH SHALLOWER THAN 24 HOURS AGO. EXPECT
THESE CLOUDS TO CONTINUE TO CLEAR THROUGH LATE MORNING. SHALLOW
AND PATCHY LOW CLOUDS WILL AFFECT THE COASTAL BEACHES AND MESAS
AGAIN TONIGHT.
ON THE WATER VAPOR IMAGERY LOOP...A TIGHT UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE
GRADIENT STRETCHING FROM THE SAN DIEGO COASTAL WATERS TOWARDS LAS
VEGAS WAS OBSERVED...MOVING SLOWLY TO THE NORTHWEST. FARTHER TO THE
SOUTH...AN INVERTED TROUGH WAS DRIFTING NORTHWARD FROM THE BAJA
SPINE TOWARD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. LOWER DESERT DEW POINTS THIS
MORNING HAVE RISEN INTO THE LOW 70S...DISPLAYING THE INCREASE IN LOW
LEVEL MOISTURE. THE 04/1200Z NKX SOUNDING SHOWED A RATHER IMPRESSIVE
MOISTURE LAYER ALOFT AND DESTABILIZATION ABOVE 10000 FT MSL. WITH
1.4 PWAT...A FORECAST LIFTED INDEX OF -1.4...AND FORECAST SURFACE
BASED CAPE OF 1235 J/KG...PARAMETERS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN AND DESERT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
CONFIDENCE OF OCCURRENCE IS MODERATE TO HIGH. MODELS ARE IN
AGREEMENT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INVERTED TROUGH PASSING OVER THE
AREA LATER TODAY AND ANOTHER TO PASS OVER THE AREA TONIGHT. THESE
MAY ACT TO TRIGGER THE STORMS. WITH THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE STILL RELATIVELY DRY...THE MAIN THREAT TODAY WILL BE DRY
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. NOCTURNAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEPEND ON
THE EVOLUTION OF THE MCS THAT IS FORECAST OVER TO DEVELOP OVER THE
SE CA DESERTS TONIGHT. ANY OUT FLOW BOUNDARY FOR THAT SYSTEM COULD
IGNITE THUNDERSTORMS IN OUR MOUNTAINS AND DESERT LOCATIONS.
BY SATURDAY THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE FULLY SEEDED AND MOIST AT ALL
LEVELS. THERE WILL AGAIN BE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
DURING THE AFTERNOON FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS WITH A HIGHER
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING. THE ONLY CAVEAT WITH FORECAST IS IF
OVERNIGHT CONVECTION EITHER ACTS TO STABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE OR IF
THERE WILL BE TOO MUCH MID AND HIGH LEVELS CLOUDS TO PREVENT DIURNAL
HEATING. EITHER ONE OF THE THOSE SITUATIONS WOULD HINDER SURFACE
BASED CONVECTION. THE CHANCE FOR MOUNTAIN AND DESERT AFTERNOON AND
EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE SUNDAY THROUGH LATE NEXT WEEK.
FORECAST PWAT VALUES ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN AT OR ABOVE 1.25.
FOR THIS WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK THE MARINE SHALLOW MARINE LAYER WILL
CONTINUE...PRODUCING NIGHT AND MORNING LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ALONG THE
COASTAL MESAS. HOWEVER...WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE MID AND HIGH LEVEL
MONSOONAL CLOUDS...THIS LAYER BE PATCHY AT BEST. HIGH TEMPERATURES
TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY WILL BE A COUPLE DEGREES ABOVE SEASONAL
NORMS...LOWING BACK TO NORMAL BY MONDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH
NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...
0401520Z...COAST/VALLEYS...P6SM WITH SCT-BKN CLOUDS AOA FL100 EXCEPT
ALONG THE COASTAL STRIP AND OFFSHORE...PATCHY MARINE STRATUS WITH
BASES 800-1100 FT MSL AND TOPS BLO 1400 FT...AND AREAS 3-5SM VIS IN
BR/HZ...MOVING LOCALLY INLAND AGAIN AFT 00Z SAT THROUGH 15Z SUN.
LOW CONFIDENCE FOR TIMING OF ANY CIGS OR VIS RESTRICTION AT COASTAL
AIRPORTS THROUGH TONIGHT.
MTNS/DESERTS...INCREASING CLDS WITH LYRS AOA FL100 AND UNRESTRICTED
VIS...EXCEPT AFT 19Z WHEN ISOLD/SCT THUNDERSTORMS COULD BRING LOW
CIGS...GUSTY ERRATIC DOWNDRAFTS...SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND VIS
AOB 3SM...MAINLY OVER THE MTNS. EXPECT CB TOPS TO FL450 WITH BASES
AROUND 6-8K FT MSL.
&&
.MARINE...
815 AM...NO HAZARDOUS MARINE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH
MONDAY.
&&
.BEACHES...
A SOUTH SWELL ORIGINATING FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE WILL BRING
WIDESPREAD STRONG RIP CURRENTS TO THE BEACHES TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT...WITH ELEVATED SURF ALSO OCCURRING BY LATE SATURDAY. JASON-2
SATELLITE PASSES OVER THE SWELL SHOW THAT THE WAVE WATCH 3 SEEMS TO
BE HANDLING THE TIMING AND HEIGHT OF THE SWELL PRETTY WELL...SO
CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECAST IS HIGH. FORE-RUNNERS FROM THE SWELL LOOK
TO ARRIVE TODAY...WITH THE SWELL BUILDING LATE TODAY THROUGH
EARLY SATURDAY AND PEAKING SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SUNDAY
NIGHT AT 3-4 FEET WITH 20-23 SECOND PERIODS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
SURF OF 4-6 FEET WITH LOCALLY HIGHER SETS FROM AROUND SOLANA BEACH
NORTH THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY. GIVEN THE STEEP ANGLE OF THE SWELL...
175-180 DEGREES...LONG-SHORE CURRENTS WILL BE COMMON...ESPECIALLY IN
SAN DIEGO COUNTY. WAVE WATCH 3 SHOWS LONG-PERIOD 2-3 FOOT SOUTH
SWELLS CONTINUING EARLY NEXT WEEK...WHICH WOULD CONTINUE THE RIP
CURRENT THREAT. A BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IS IN EFFECT FOR ELEVATED
SURF AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.
&&
.SKYWARN...
SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE FOR TODAY FROM AROUND NOON THROUGH
EARLY AFTERNOON...MAINLY FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS AND POSSIBLY
THE FAR INLAND VALLEYS. THERE IS A GREATER POSSIBILITY FOR SKYWARN
ACTIVATION SATURDAY FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD AND AREAS.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR THE BEACHES
IN THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY
COASTAL AREAS.
PZ...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS...17
PUBLIC...JT/PALMER
AVIATION/MARINE...JAD
BEACHES...HARRISONThe Santa Ana Mts radar (KSOX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:29 UTC.
4 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A transient was rescued from flowing water in the flood control channel at 11th and D Streets in Yucaipa.
Two structures were damaged. One roof collapsed and one roof had damage near the intersection of Calimesa Blvd and Interstate 10.
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding on I-15 and Wild Wash Road.
CHP reported flash flooding at Highway 66 (National Trails Highway.) and Hodge Road.
CHP reported a wash-out from heavy rainfall at SR-247 and Reche Road...as well as debris on the roadway. CHP closed SR-247 at this intersection.
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, July 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: 535031, 535038, 535030, 535032, 535033.