A powerful winter storm. which began to impact Southern California on the last day in February, continued to bring significant weather to the area through March 2nd.
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 LOX wrote it up.
A powerful winter storm. which began to impact Southern California on the last day in February, continued to bring significant weather to the area through March 2nd. Rainfall totals were very impressive, ranging from 1 to 4 inches across coastal areas to between 6 and 12 inches across the mountains and foothills. This winter storm generated some intense showers which produced flash flooding and debris flows as well as some severe thunderstorms. In the mountains, the combination of 6 to 12 inches of snowfall and southerly wind gusts around 90 MPH generated winter storm conditions.
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 Feb 28, 10:10 PM PST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 1010 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014 ...UPDATE FOR NEW AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... THE WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY...BRINGING RAIN...HIGH ELEVATION SNOW...GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS AND WATERSPOUTS...URBAN FLOODING...AND MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS NEAR RECENT BURN AREAS. PRECIPITATION WILL BE INTENSE AT TIMES. SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. DRY AND WARMER WEATHER IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK EXCEPT FOR A SMALL CHANCE OF SHOWERS NORTH OF PT CONCEPTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. && .SHORT TERM (TODAY-MON)...MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OVER VENTURA AND LA COUNTY IS SLOWLY MOVING TO NORTH AND THE REGION WAS FAIRLY PRECIPITATION FREE TO THE SOUTH. RAIN WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH THRU MIDNIGHT FOR LA AND VTA COUNTY BUT HEAVY PRECIP AND FLOODING WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER ANY SHOWER. DON'T BE FOOLED BY ANY LULL THIS STORM WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT AND A HEAVY SHOWER WILL BE POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME. A BIG LOBE OF PVA IS SWINGING AROUND THE UPPER LOW AND WILL SMASH INTO THE CENTRAL COAST LATER THIS EVENING BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THESE HEAVY SHOWERS AND TSTMS WILL WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH TO VTA AND LA COUNTY OVERNIGHT. RAINFALL SO FAR IS 1 TO 3 INCHES COASTS 3 TO 6 INCHES VLYS AND FOOTHILLS AND 4 TO 8 INCHES IN THE MTNS. SNOW HAS FALLEN AS LOW AS 5500 FEET BUT IN GENERAL SNOW LEVELS ARE AROUND 6000 FEET. QUICK LOOK AT THE 00Z NAM SHOW CURRENT FCST ON TRACK SATURDAY CHOCK A PLENTY OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CREATED BY THE PVA ASSOC WITH THE UPPER LOW ALONG THE INCREASING INSTABILITY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE COOLING UPPER ATMOSPHERE. THIS MDL RUN SHOWS ANOTHER 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN FOR MOST AREAS SATURDAY. FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... AS THE UPPER LOW FINALLY MOVES EAST OF THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT WE SHOULD SEE DECREASING SHOWERS, THOUGH STILL LOCALLY HEAVY AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN LA COUNTY. ON SUNDAY STILL A FEW SHOWERS AROUND BUT MUCH LESS PRECIP EXPECTED OVERALL AND NO CONVECTION. DRY AND WARMER CONDITIONS EXPECTED MONDAY. .LONG TERM (TUE-FRI)...DRY WEATHER FOR THE MOST PART EXCEPT FOR A SMALL CHANCE OF RAIN N OF PT CONCEPTION LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THU. PRETTY NICE RIDGING ACROSS THE AREA LATE MONDAY INTO WEDNESDAY WITH HIGHS WARMING UP WELL INTO THE 70S FOR THE VALLEYS BY WED. PROBABLY A LITTLE COOLING THU AS THAT WEAK TROF PASSES TO THE NORTH THU, THEN WARMING BACK UP FRIDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THE WEEKEND. THE GFS SHOWS WEAK OFFSHORE FLOW FRI/SAT AND WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A FEW 80S AROUND LATE NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION...01/0600Z...LOW TO MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN THE 06Z TAF PACKAGE. ALTHO THERE IS GENERALLY HI CONFIDENCE IN LOW CLOUDS AND IFR/MVFR CIGS AT TIMES THRU THE PERIOD...THE TIMING OF THE FLIGHT CATS ARE PROBLEMATIC AS THESE CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BE INTERMITTENT. IT DOES APPEAR THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF VFR CIGS AT TIMES AT MOST OF THE AIRFIELDS AS WELL OVERNIGHT...BUT TIMING OF THE VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC. GUSTY S TO SE WINDS AT TIMES CAN BE EXPECTED AT MOST AIRFIELDS THRU SAT. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER SWRN CA TONIGHT AND SAT. KLAX...LOW TO MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN THE 00Z TAF. ALTHO THERE IS GENERALLY HI CONFIDENCE IN LOW CLOUDS AND MVFR/VFR CIGS THRU THE PERIOD...THE TIMING OF THE FLIGHT CATS ARE PROBLEMATIC AS THESE CONDITIONS WILL BE INTERMITTENT ESPECIALLY TONIGHT AND AGAIN EARLY SAT EVENING. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SAT NIGHT AFT 03Z. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE AIRFIELD AT TIMES THRU SAT EVENING. KBUR...MODERATE CONFIDENCE OVERALL IN THE 06Z TAF. THERE IS GENERALLY HI CONFIDENCE IN LOW CLOUDS AND IFR/MVFR CIGS THRU MOST OF THE PERIOD...ALTHO THERE ARE TIMING ISSUES BETWEEN FLIGHT CATS. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AFT 03Z SAT EVENING. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE AIRFIELD AT TIMES THRU SAT. && .MARINE...28/200PM. A STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING DANGEROUS SEA CONDITIONS TO THE COASTAL WATERS AND HARBOR ENTRANCES OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY. MODERATE CONFIDENCE THAT REMAINING GUSTY WINDS WILL STAY UNDER GALE FORCE...EXCEPT FOR THE NORTHWEST PORTION OFF THE CENTRAL COAST TONIGHT...AND NEAR ANY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS. VERY UNSTABLE AIR EXPECTED TODAY...WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE...AND COULD HAVE A REPEAT ON SATURDAY. STEEP SEAS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF TONIGHT...THEN A LARGE LONG PERIOD WEST SWELL WILL BUILD IN ON SATURDAY. WATERS OFF THE CENTRAL COAST CAN EXPECT SEAS AROUND 20 FEET...AND BETWEEN 10 AND 15 FEET OVER THE INNER WATERS SOUTH OF POINT CONCEPTION. SO WHILE WINDS OVER THE INNER WATERS WILL GENERALLY WEAKEN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THRESHOLDS TONIGHT...THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT DUE TO THIS LARGE SWELL. MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN BREAKING WAVES AROUND THE MORRO BAY AND VENTURA HARBOR ENTRANCES. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING (SEE LAXWSWLOX). HIGH WIND WARNING (SEE LAXNPWLOX). FLASH FLOOD WATCH (SEE LAXFFALOX). FLOOD ADVISORY (SEE LAXFLSLOX). 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...MW/ASR AVIATION...SIRARD MARINE...KITTELL SYNOPSIS...SUKUP WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 840 AM PST FRI FEB 28 2014 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-011400- 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- 840 AM PST FRI FEB 28 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. WFO LOX PLANS TO DISCONTINUE THIS PRODUCT IN 2014. PLEASE DIRECT ANY COMMENTS TO ERIC BOLDT AT 805-988-6623. .DAY ONE... TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN...HIGH ELEVATION SNOW...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...AND GUSTY WINDS TO THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. HIGH SURF WILL DEVELOP TODAY ACROSS WEST FACING BEACHES. HIGHEST SURF WILL BE ACROSS THE CENTRAL COAST WITH HIGHEST SETS TO 13 FT...WHILE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY BEACHES EXPERIENCE SETS TO 8 FEET. EXPECT A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK TO ACCOMPANY THE HIGH SURF. * WINTER STORM WARNING.......SEE WWUS46 KLOX - WSWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * FLOOD WATCH................SEE WGUS66 KLOX - FFALOX FOR DETAILS * * FLOOD ADVISORY.............SEE WGUS86 KLOX - FLSLOX FOR DETAILS * * WIND ADVISORY..............SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX 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 * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN...HIGH ELEVATION SNOW...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...AND GUSTY WINDS TO THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AND PEAK ON SATURDAY WITH THE CENTRAL COAST EXPECTED TO SEE 10 TO 15 FT SURF WITH LOCAL SETS TO 18 FT. HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT SURF 6 TO 10 FEET WITH LOCAL SETS TO 12 FEET FOR VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY WEST FACING BEACHES. A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK WILL CONTINUE WITH THE HIGH SURF. THE THREAT OF WATERSPOUTS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. * WINTER STORM WARNING.......SEE WWUS46 KLOX - WSWLOX FOR DETAILS * * HIGH WIND WARNING..........SEE WWUS76 KLOX - NPWLOX FOR DETAILS * * 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 * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
638 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014
CAZ041-046-054-547-548-010300-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES CA-LOS
ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE CA-LOS
ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CA-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY CA-SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA CA-
638 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY UNTIL
700 PM PST...
AT 630 PM PST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MALIBU TO A LINE OFF THE SANTA MONICA
COAST. THIS SQUALL LINE WILL MOVE OVER THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS
AND WEST LOS ANGELES THEN OVER THE CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AND THE SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY OVER THE NEXT 45 MINUTES.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SANTA MONICA...DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES...BEVERLY HILLS...VAN NUYS
HOLLYWOOD...
BURBANK AND GLENDALE...
LAKE VIEW TERRACE...
TUJUNGA... SUNLAND... LA CRESCENTA... LA CANADA/FLINTRIDGE AND
PASADENA...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
LAT...LON 3374 11842 3376 11843 3379 11843 3381 11840
3383 11840 3394 11846 3395 11845 3403 11853
3403 11858 3410 11861 3441 11831 3410 11806
TIME...MOT...LOC 0234Z 221DEG 33KT 3412 11844
KAPLAN/ASRSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA 801 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014 CAZ040-044-045-053-010430- VENTURA COUNTY COAST CA-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS CA-VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS CA-VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS CA- 801 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL VENTURA COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM PST... AT 753 PM PST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM NEAR SANTA PAULA...OR 9 MILES EAST OF VENTURA... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS CELL MAY BE PRODUCING A FUNNEL CLOUD OR A VERY WEAK TORNADO JUST SOUTHWEST OF SANTA PAULA. AS THIS CELL CONTINUES TO MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST IT COULD AFFECT THE CITY OF FILMORE AS WELL. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SANTA PAULA... FILLMORE... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3454 11898 3440 11883 3428 11912 3432 11918 TIME...MOT...LOC 0357Z 217DEG 17KT 3433 11909 KAPLAN/ASR
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
1028 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0725 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 ESE SAN FERNANDO 34.27N 118.39W
02/28/2014 LOS ANGELES CA BROADCAST MEDIA
FLASH FLOODING CAUSED A CAR TO GET TRAPPED IN LAKE VIEW
TERRACE. AROUND FOOTHILL BLVD AND GLADSTONE AVE. LADY WAS
RESCUED WITH NO INJURY.
0924 PM FLASH FLOOD 14 E CASTAIC LAKE 34.68N 118.45W
02/28/2014 LOS ANGELES CA BROADCAST MEDIA
SOME DEBRIS FLOWS OCCURRED AROUND LAKE HUGHES IN THE
POWRHOUSE BURN AREA. 13 HOMES WERE EVACTUED. NO
INJURIES.RAINFALL RATES WERE NOT HIGH IN THAT AREA...BUT
COULD HAVE OCCURED FROM NEARBY MOUNTAIN RUNOFF.
&&
KAPLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
1141 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0245 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 ENE AZUSA 34.15N 117.86W
02/28/2014 LOS ANGELES CA BROADCAST MEDIA
FLASH FLOOD OCCURRED AT THE COLBY BURN AREA. 2 GARAGES
WERE DAMAGED ON EASLY CANYON IN GLENDORA.
&&
KAPLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
1152 PM PST FRI FEB 28 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 S BURBANK 34.18N 118.32W
02/28/2014 LOS ANGELES CA BROADCAST MEDIA
LARGE TREE OVER 80 YEARS OLD FELL ON A HOME NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF MAGNOLIA BLVD AND N.BEACHWOOD DR.
&&
KAPLANThe Santa Ana Mts radar (KSOX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:19 UTC.
2 winter storm, 2 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter storm conditions developed across the mountains of Los Angeles county. Snowfall amounts between 6 and 12 inches were reported above 6000 feet along with southerly winds gusting to near 90 MPH.
Winter storm conditions developed across the mountains of Los Angeles county. Snowfall amounts between 6 and 12 inches were reported above 6000 feet along with southerly winds gusting to near 90 MPH.
A severe thunderstorm moved across the community of Walnut. A trained weather spotter reported 1.50 inch hail from this storm.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms moved across the communities of Asuza and Glendora, generating flash flooding and debris flows. Law enforcement reported that several homes were damaged due to debris flows.
A large long-period west swell generated high surf along the coast of southern Santa Barbara county. A large wave crashed through the window of Moby Dick restaurant in Stearns Wharf. In addition, 50 feet of the Gaviota Pier was destroyed by large surf and an employee of a restaurant near the Goleta Pier was injured when a wave washed him from an outdoor deck into the ocean.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms moved across the communities of Asuza and Glendora, generating flash flooding and debris flows. Law enforcement and media reported numerous mud and debris flows.
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, March 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: 504159, 504160, 504158, 504156, 504164, 504157.