Dust Storm and High Wind in California, March 25 to 26, 2014

Name: Dust Storm and High Wind in California, March 25 to 26, 2014
Start: 2014-03-25T22:50
End: 2014-03-26T21:30
Location: California

March 25 to 26, 2014 · NWS SGX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 deep, upper-level trough brought strong and gusty westerly winds to the mountains and deserts. Several wind gusts over 75 mph were observed, especially on the desert slopes leading down into the Coachella Valley. This resulted in areas of blowing dust and sand on the desert floor, reducing visibility to near zero at times.

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 Mar 25, 8:30 PM PST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 25, 8:30 PM PST, 2 hours 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
930 PM PDT TUE MAR 25 2014

.SYNOPSIS...
A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING MOSTLY LIGHT SHOWERS TO THE AREA
LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL OCCUR IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS...WITH BLOWING DUST POSSIBLE IN THE DESERTS.
FAIR WARMER WEATHER EXCEPT FOR AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS IN COASTAL AREAS
WILL OCCUR FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THEN COOLER WEATHER WILL RETURN
TUESDAY WITH LIGHT SHOWERS POSSIBLE.

&&

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

LOW CLOUDS COVERED ALL AREAS FROM THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS SLOPES TO
THE COAST THIS EVENING. NOTE THAT THE RADAR ECHOES JUST OFF THE SAN
DIEGO COUNTY COAST ARE DUE TO CHAFF VERSUS PRECIPITATION. STRONG
GUSTY WINDS OCCURRED IN THE DESERTS...ESPECIALLY EAST OF SAN
GORGONIO PASS WHERE LOCAL GUSTS OVER 60 MPH OCCURRED...BUT MOST
WINDIER LOCATIONS ON THE DESERT MTN SLOPES AND DESERTS HAD GUSTS IN
THE 40-50 MPH RANGE.

UPPER LOW IS CURRENTLY OFF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST...AND THIS
SHOULD RESULT IN LIGHT SHOWERS FROM THE COAST TO THE MTNS OF
SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA BY MORNING. WE WILL BASICALLY HAVE A
CONSTANT STREAM OF WESTERLY WINDS AT 20-30 MPH AT 850 MB ON THE WEST
SLOPES OF THE MTNS...SO WITH A NEARLY SATURATED ATMOSPHERE THAT
SHOULD PRODUCE SOME OROGRAPHIC PRECIP. HOWEVER...LACK OF A STRONG
DYNAMIC TRIGGER AND MOISTURE MOSTLY REMAINING AT/BELOW 7000 FT WILL
MEAN THAT MOST COASTAL/VALLEY AREAS WILL HAVE LESS THAN 1/4 INCH OF
RAIN LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THU AND MOST MTN AREAS WILL HAVE 1/4 TO
1/2 INCH...THOUGH SAN DIEGO COUNTY TOTALS WILL BE A LITTLE HIGHER
WITH 3/4 INCH ON THE BETTER OROGRAPHIC WEST SLOPES. THE THURSDAY
PRECIP DOES NOT LOOK AS GOOD AS THE PRECIP ON WED AS THE VORT MAX
WILL BE WEAKER AND THE WINDS ALOFT WILL BE LIGHTER FOR LESS
OROGRAPHIC INFLUENCE. SPEAKING OF THE WINDS...THEY WILL CONTINUE
NEAR CURRENT STRENGTH THROUGH WED EVENING IN THE MTNS/DESERTS...WITH
THE LOCAL GUSTS OVER 60 MPH IN THE NORMAL WINDY LOCATIONS...THEN
GRADUALLY WEAKEN WED NIGHT.

FRI THROUGH SAT LOOKS LIKE FAIR WARMER WEATHER WITH SOME RIDGING AND
PROBABLY SOME MARINE LAYER GIVEN THE TIME OF YEAR AND LACK OF
OFFSHORE FLOW...THEN A TROUGH WILL MOVE BY TO THE NORTH SAT
NIGHT/SUNDAY TO DEEPEN THE MARINE LAYER. ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM
AROUND TUE...BASED ON CURRENT PROGS...COULD BRING SOME LIGHT PRECIP
TO THE AREA AGAIN.

&&

.AVIATION...
260315Z...COAST/VALLEYS...DEEPENING STRATUS LAYER THRU 18Z WEDNESDAY
WITH BASES 1500-3000 FT AND TOPS GROWING TO 5000 FEET. ISOLATED
LIGHT SHOWERS BEGINNING AFTER 09Z WITH LOCAL CIGS LOWERING TO
800-1500 FT MSL WITH VIS 2-4SM BR -SHRA.

18-24Z WEDNESDAY...BKN-OVC020-030 TOPS 6000 FT WITH ISOLATED -SHRA.
PCPN BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD BTWN 00-12Z THURSDAY. WINDS 15-20KT
WITH GUSTS TO 25KT.

MTNS/DESERTS...LOWER COASTAL SLOPES BLO 6000 FEET BECOMING OBSCURED
IN CLOUDS/FOG THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY. AFT 18Z...MTNS BECOMING
OBSCURED IN CLOUDS AND PCPN THROUGH 12Z THU.

WEST WINDS INCREASING 20-30KT WITH GUSTS 40-50KT OVER AND
EAST OF THE MTNS THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH MOD-STG UDDFS OVER THE
DESERT MTN SLOPES. ROTORS LIKELY OVER THE COACHELLA VALLEY WED AND
THU.

&&

.MARINE...
TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...INCREASING WINDS TONIGHT AHEAD OF COLD
FRONT MOVING IN FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE STRONGEST WEST-NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL BEGIN ARRIVING WEDNESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING WITH GUSTS 20 TO 25 KT. COMBINED SEAS BUILDING TO
8-9 FT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH THURSDAY WITH
HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT IN THE OUTER WATERS.
SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. DECREASING WINDS AND
WAVES THURSDAY NIGHT.

&&

.SKYWARN...
SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED. HOWEVER WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM PDT THURSDAY FOR THE APPLE AND
     LUCERNE VALLEYS...COACHELLA VALLEY...RIVERSIDE COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY
     DESERTS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

PZ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 8 AM WEDNESDAY TO 11 PM PDT THURSDAY
     FOR THE WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER
     EXTENDING 30 TO 60 NM OUT INCLUDING SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND.

&&

PUBLIC...MAXWELL
AVIATION/MARINE...MOEDE

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 25, 8:49 PM PST, 2 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
949 PM PDT TUE MAR 25 2014

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

0938 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NE THOUSAND PALMS     33.88N 116.34W
03/25/2014  M70 MPH          RIVERSIDE          CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION SKY VALLEY /EW3081/

&&

NWS SAN DIEGO CA
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Mar 25, 8:50 PM PST, 2 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
950 PM PDT TUE MAR 25 2014

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

0644 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNE CATHEDRAL CITY    33.87N 116.43W
03/25/2014  M54 MPH          RIVERSIDE          CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION EDOM HILL (6 NE PSP) /SDEDO/

&&

NWS SAN DIEGO CA
IRIS SYSTEM

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Coachella Valley

When: March 25, 10:50 PM PST to March 26, 7:00 PM PST
Where: Coachella Valley forecast zone
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds began at the Edom Hill SDGE mesonet between 2150 PST on the 25th and 0050 PST on the 26th. At this time, a first peak gust of 62 mph was recorded, followed by a period of sub-criteria winds. High winds resumed between 0950 and 1050 PST on the 26th, ending between 1850 and 1950 PST that evening. During this second period, a peak gust of 82 mph was recorded around 1600 PST. Several other gusts over 70 mph were recorded as well. High winds also occurred at the Whitewater RAWS between 0450 and 1850 PST on the 26th. During this time, a peak gust of 63 mph was measured between 0750 and 0850 PST.|Three jets headed into Palm Springs airport were diverted to Los Angeles and Ontario due to strong wind shear and rotors over KPSP between 0925 and 0931 PST. Pilots also reported extreme turbulence over Palm Springs.

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When: March 25, 11:30 PM PST to March 26, 9:30 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds began at the Volcan Mountain mesonet between 2320 and 2340 PST on the 25th and ended between 2130 and 2140 PST on the 26th. During this period of time, winds gusted mostly over 60 mph. The peak wind gust of 72 mph was measured between 1820 and 1830 PST on the 26th. |High winds occurred at the Harrison Park mesonet off and on between 1810 and 2150 PST on the 26th. During this time, a peak wind gust of 61 mph was measured between 1830 and 1840 PST on the 26th.

High Wind, San Diego County Deserts

When: March 26, 12:00 PM PST to 7:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Deserts forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotter SDG956 just southeast of Borrego Springs measured a wind gust of 73 mph. around 1750 PST on the 26th. A nearby spotter reported tree limbs/branches 2 inches in diameter down, with winds 30 mph gusting to 45 mph with a peak gust of 53 mph.

Dust Storm, Coachella Valley

When: March 26, 12:00 PM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where: Coachella Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to CHP, multiple cars crashed on Highway 86 near Thermal/Mecca due to zero visibility from high winds blowing dust. CHP issued a sig alert following the crash and all southbound lanes on Highway 86 were closed. KTRM airport at the time was reporting winds WSW 22 mph with gusts to 37 mph. The Coachella weather observation had NW winds 15 mph, gusting to 31 mph.|Near Palm Springs, Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino are both closed at the wash due to low visibilty from blowing dust. Winds at the time: Edom Hill was NW at 50 mph with gusts to 68 mph, while KPSP airport was NE at 25 mph with gusts 38 mph.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Dust Storm: Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.

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, March 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: 508182, 508020, 508021, 508183.