High Wind in California, May 10 to 11, 2014

Name: High Wind in California, May 10 to 11, 2014
Start: 2014-05-10T15:00
End: 2014-05-11T10:30
Location: California

May 10 to 11, 2014 · NWS SGX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

An upper level trough of low pressure deepened and moved across the Great Basin, increasing the onshore flow, resulting in gusty west to northwest winds in the mountains and passes. The winds extended down the desert slopes as well, into the Coachella Valley, creating reduced visibilities and closed roads due to wind gusts in the low 80s and blowing dust and sand.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

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 May 10, 1:05 PM PST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 10, 1:05 PM PST, 1 hour 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
205 PM PDT SAT MAY 10 2014

.SYNOPSIS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL DIG ACROSS THE
GREAT BASIN LATER TODAY...BRINGING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES AND
MUCH STRONGER ONSHORE FLOW TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH THIS
EVENING.  AS A RESULT...STRONG AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL DEVELOP OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS LATER TODAY THROUGH THIS
EVENING.  HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD ALONG THE WEST COAST...WITH
A SIGNIFICANT WARMING TREND DEVELOPING THROUGH WEDNESDAY.  DAYTIME
HIGHS WILL BE 15 TO 25 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE BY MIDWEEK...WITH SOME
RECORDS POTENTIALLY FALLING.  PERIODS OF STRONG GUSTY NORTHEAST
WINDS WILL ALSO DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE
MOUNTAINS AND INTO THE VALLEYS FROM SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.  HOT
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK...BUT
SOME MINOR COOLING MAY BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST...AS WEAK ONSHORE
FLOW REDEVELOPS.

&&

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

WATER VAPOR IMAGERY CONTINUES TO SHOW AN UPPER LEVEL LOW DIGGING
INTO THE GREAT BASIN THIS AFTERNOON.  AS A RESULT...THE ONSHORE
GRADIENTS ARE INCREASING ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...WITH THE SAN
DIEGO TO DAGGETT GRADIENT AROUND UP TO 7.8 MBS.  THE UPPER LEVEL
WIND SUPPORT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO INCREASE...WITH THE MODELS
SHOWING THE 850 MB WINDS INCREASING TO BETWEEN 40 AND 55 KTS BY LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  THEREFORE...GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY OVER THE RIDGE TOPS AND ALONG THE DESERT
SLOPES THIS EVENING.  THESE WINDS ARE ALREADY KICKING UP SOME
DUST...WITH VICTORVILLE OCCASIONALLY REPORTING VISIBILITIES AROUND
4 MILES.  THEREFORE...EXPECT THIS TO CONTINUE...WITH VISIBILITIES
OCCASIONALLY DROPPING TO NEAR A MILE AT TIMES ACROSS THE DESERTS IN
THESE WINDS.

IN THE MEANTIME THOUGH...A FEW LOW CLOUDS ARE LINGERING ACROSS THE
REGION TODAY...WITH TEMPERATURES RUNNING SIMILAR TO OR UP TO 6
DEGREES COOLER THAN THIS TIME YESTERDAY.  THIS WILL MAKE FOR A
PLEASANT AND MILD EVENING...WITH THIS BRING THE LAST COOL DAY FOR A
WHILE.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO BUILD ALONG THE WEST COAST ON
SUNDAY...WITH MUCH WARMER CONDITIONS DEVELOPING TOMORROW.  AS THE
RIDGE STRENGTHENS THIS WEEK...HOT AND VERY DRY WEATHER WILL
DEVELOP.  THE HOTTEST DAYS WILL LIKELY BE TUESDAY THROUGH
THURSDAY...WITH DAYTIME TEMPERATURES RUNNING 15 TO 25 DEGREES ABOVE
AVERAGE WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS.  THIS HEAT WILL EVEN SPREAD ALL THE
WAY TO THE COAST...WITH SOME RECORDS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ON
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.  ALTHOUGH SOME MINOR COOLING MAY OCCUR ALONG
THE COAST FOR THE LATTER PART OF THE WORK WEEK...AS WEAK ONSHORE
FLOW RETURNS...INLAND AREAS WILL REMAIN HOT AND DRY...WITH SOME
COOLER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE BY THIS WEEKEND.

THE OTHER MAJOR CONCERN BESIDES THE HEAT WILL BE THE DEVELOPING
SANTA ANA WIND EVENT.  THE MODELS ARE SHOWING THE STRONG WEST TO
NORTHWEST WINDS THIS EVENING RAPIDLY TURNING NORTH TO NORTHEAST BY
SUNDAY MORNING.  ALTHOUGH THESE OFFSHORE WINDS DO NOT LOOK NEARLY AS
STRONG AS THE EVENT EARLIER THIS MONTH...THERE IS VERY GOOD UPPER
LEVEL SUPPORT FOR SUNDAY MORNING...WITH 850 MB WINDS RANGING BETWEEN
50 AND 60 KTS OVER THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
MOUNTAINS AND THE SANTA ANA MOUNTAIN AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF THE
INLAND EMPIRE AND THE INLAND PORTIONS OF ORANGE COUNTY.  THE UPPER
LEVEL SUPPORT THEN WEAKENS A BIT DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY...BUT ALSO
TURNS MORE NORTHEAST TO EAST DURING THIS TIME...SHIFTING THE FOCUS
OF THE WINDS TO THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO
COUNTY MOUNTAINS.  A SECONDARY PEAK WILL THEN OCCUR MONDAY
MORNING...WITH A STRONGER PEAK OCCURRING ON TUESDAY MORNING.  THE
MODELS ARE NOW SHOWING THAT THE STRONGEST OFFSHORE GRADIENTS WILL
DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION BY TUESDAY MORNING...WITH THE SAN DIEGO TO
DAGGETT GRADIENT UPWARDS OF -10 MBS.  THE UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT ALSO
INCREASES DURING THIS TIME.  FOR THIS REASON...EXPECT PERIODS OF
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS TO CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY AND
POTENTIALLY INTO WEDNESDAY AS WELL.

&&

.AVIATION...
102015Z...COAST/VALLEYS...MOST OF THE STRATUS HAS CLEARED...WITH
SOME LINGERING SCT CLOUDS WITH BASES 2500-3000 FT MSL OCCURRING AT
EARLY AFTERNOON. STRATUS WILL BE LESS EXTENSIVE TONIGHT WITH
GREATEST AMOUNTS IN WESTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. BASES WILL BE
AROUND 2000 FT MSL...AND CLEARING WILL BE MUCH EARLIER SUNDAY
MORNING...MOSTLY BY 15Z. AREAS OF NORTHEAST WINDS WITH LOCAL SFC
GUSTS OVER 40 KNOTS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 12Z SUN BELOW PASSES AND
CANYONS AND IN THE FOOTHILLS...MAINLY IN ORANGE AND SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES.

MTNS/DESERTS...SFC WINDS FROM THE WEST WILL INCREASE THIS
AFTERNOON/EVENING TO 20-30 KT WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 KT...PRODUCING
STRONG UP/DOWNDRAFTS AND LLWS OVER AND EAST OF THE MTNS. THERE COULD
BE LOCALLY REDUCED VIS TO 3-5SM IN BLOWING DUST AND SAND IN THE
DESERTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY BECOME MORE
NORTHERLY OVERNIGHT...THEN MOSTLY NORTHEASTERLY SUNDAY MORNING WITH
LOCAL GUSTS OVER 40 KNOTS NEAR PASSES/CANYONS.

&&

.MARINE...
20Z...WEST NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AGAIN THIS
AFTERNOON...BECOMING 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT...MAINLY IN THE
OUTER COASTAL WATERS. WINDS WILL DECREASE AGAIN LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF STRONGER NW WINDS
15 TO 20 KT WITH LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON/SUNDAY
EVENING. THE GUSTY WINDS AND A STEEP SHORT-PERIOD SWELL WILL PRODUCE
COMBINED SEAS OF 7 TO 10 FEET OVER THE OUTER WATERS...WITH HIGHEST
SEAS TONIGHT.

&&

.BEACHES...
A STEEP NW SWELL WILL BYPASS MOST OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
BEACHES THIS WEEKEND. THE BEST CHANCE OF ELEVATED SURF AND RIP
CURRENT RISK WILL BE ON SUNDAY AT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BEACHES SOUTH
OF LA JOLLA...WHERE WAVE SETS TO 5 FEET WILL OCCUR.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
STRONG AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THROUGH THIS EVENING...AS AN UPPER LEVEL
TROUGH DIGS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN.  HOWEVER...THESE WINDS WILL
RAPIDLY TRANSITION TO NORTH AND NORTHEAST BY SUNDAY MORNING...THEN
TURN MORE NORTHEAST AND EASTERLY DURING THE DAY...AS A SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE SYSTEM BUILDS INTO THE GREAT BASIN.  THE STRONGEST WINDS ON
SUNDAY WILL BE OVER THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
MOUNTAINS AND THE SANTA ANA MOUNTAIN AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF THE
INLAND EMPIRE AND THE INLAND PORTIONS OF ORANGE COUNTY.  THESE WINDS
WILL SPREAD INTO RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO LATER IN THE DAY...AND
INCREASE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING...WITH A SECONDARY PEAK ON
MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY.

VERY DRY AIR WILL ALSO SPREAD ACROSS THE SOUTHLAND ON SUNDAY...WITH
HOT AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUING THROUGH AT LEAST
THURSDAY...AS HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT STRENGTHENS OVER THE WEST.  THESE
VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH THE STRONG WINDS TO ELEVATE
THE WILDFIRE DANGER.  THEREFORE...RED FLAG WARNINGS IS NOW IN EFFECT
FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

&&

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

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT FOR THE APPLE AND
     LUCERNE VALLEYS...COACHELLA VALLEY...RIVERSIDE COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS...SAN DIEGO
     COUNTY DESERTS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 8 PM PDT TUESDAY FOR THE
     RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE SAN JACINTO RANGER
     DISTRICT OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST...SAN DIEGO
     COUNTY INLAND VALLEYS...SAN DIEGO COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE PALOMAR AND DESCANSO RANGER
     DISTRICTS OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 8 PM PDT TUESDAY FOR THE
     ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS...SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE
     COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE...SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
     MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND FRONT COUNTRY
     RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST...
     SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE TRABUCO RANGER DISTRICT
     OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.

PZ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 11 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR THE
     WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER EXTENDING
     30 TO 60 NM OUT INCLUDING SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND.

&&

PUBLIC/FIRE WEATHER...PALMER
AVIATION/MARINE...MAXWELL

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. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Coachella Valley

When: May 10, 3:00 PM PST to May 11, 6:00 AM PST
Where: Coachella Valley forecast zone
Measured: 72 kt (83 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 mesonet around 1500 PST on the 10th and ended around 0600 PST on the 11th. During this time, several gusts over 65 mph were reported, including a peak gust of 83 mph measured between 2000 and 2100 PST on the 10th. Higher gusts may have been reported after this time, but the last high gust appeared to have damaged the wind sensor. Downwind, Palm Springs law enforcement closed Vista Chino, as well as Indian Canyon Road and Gene Autry Road just south of Interstate 10 due to high winds and blowing sand overnight, into the morning of the 11th.

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When: May 10, 8:00 PM PST to 10:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 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 Volcan Mountain mesonet between 2000 and 2200 PST on the 10th. During this time, winds were sustained out of the WSW at 40-45 mph with a peak gust of 60 mph measured twice.

High Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When: May 11, 5:30 AM PST to 10:30 AM PST
Where: Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred at the Santiago Peak mesonet between 0530 and 1030 PST on the 11th. During this time, winds were sustained out of the NNE at 40-45 mph with a peak gust of 59 mph measured between 0930-1000 PST.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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, May 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: 522318, 522319, 522321.