High Wind in California, February 6 to 7, 2015

Name: High Wind in California, February 6 to 7, 2015
Start: 2015-02-06T23:03
End: 2015-02-07T07:03
Location: California

February 6 to 7, 2015 · NWS MFR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

The second in a series of fronts brought strong winds to many areas in Northern California.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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: 2

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 MFR wrote it up.

The second in a series of fronts brought strong winds to many areas in Northern California.

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 Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 6, 8:01 PM PST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 6, 8:01 PM PST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
801 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

.DISCUSSION...07/00Z NAM IN. 07/00Z GFS IN THROUGH 84HR.

STRONG SOUTHWEST FLOW REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST...AND EMBEDDED STRONG SHORT WAVES CONTINUE TO BRING IN
COPIOUS TROPICAL-SOURCED MOISTURE TO THE AREA. ONE SUCH SHORT WAVE
BROUGHT FLOODING AND HIGH WINDS TO THE AREA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
ANOTHER ONE WILL MOVE IN LATER TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THIS
ONE WILL NOT BE AS WET OR WINDY...AND WIDESPREAD HIGH WINDS WILL
LIKELY BE LIMITED TO THE COASTAL AREAS.

REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST DISCUSSION FROM THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
AFD...FROM SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE NEXT CONCERN SHIFTS TO SUNDAY NIGHT AS BOTH THE NAM AND GFS
BRING ANOTHER STRONG LOW PRESSURE INSIDE 130W. AT THIS POINT THE
GFS IS FASTER BUT BOTH MODELS SHOW CONSISTENT MOVEMENT. WE WILL
LIKELY SEE STRONG WINDS AND HIGH SEAS AGAIN. ANOTHER SET OF
WEATHER WATCHES ARE POSSIBLE AFTER THIS ROUND OF WARNINGS HAVE
EXPIRED. ONE THING TO BEAR IN MIND IS THE SIMILARITY OF THIS
SUNDAY NIGHT STORM TO THE ONE THAT HAD OCCURRED IN DECEMBER. /FB

LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN VERY
GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH SOME MINOR TIMING DIFFERENCES
WITH THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT/THURSDAY MORNING FRONT. TUESDAY MORNING
BEGINS WITH REMAINING SHOWERS BEHIND AN EXITING COLD FRONT
DISSIPATING IN NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA AS AN UPPER
LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE REGION. WEAK OFFSHORE FLOW SPREADS
ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND WITH AMPLE
PRECIP OVER THE PAST MANY DAYS FOG WILL WILL DEVELOP QUICKLY IN THE
WEST SIDE VALLEYS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WITH THE ECMWF BEING
A LITTLE FASTER TO BRING PRECIP TO THE COAST HAVE A LITTLE MORE
CONFIDENCE IN BRINGING THIS PRECIP ONTO THE COAST BEFORE SUNRISE.
HOWEVER...THIS IS NEAR THE TAIL END OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST SO
CONFIDENCE IN EXACT TIMING IS NOT TREMENDOUS. /SBN

&&

.AVIATION...BASED ON THE 07/00Z TAF CYCLE...WINDS ALOFT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE STRONG...GENERALLY 50-70 KT AT AROUND 10,000 FT
MSL...SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE SOME TURBULENCE ON
APPROACHES AND DEPARTURES OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. WE ARE
NOT EXPECTING AS MUCH WIND TO REACH THE SURFACE AS OCCURRED LAST
NIGHT, BUT THERE CAN STILL BE SOME GUSTY SOUTH WINDS AT THE
TERMINALS. OVERALL, THERE WILL BE A MIX OF VFR/MVFR WITH
WIDESPREAD TERRAIN OBSCURATION IN -RA/RA. AREAS OF IFR ARE
EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH COAST AND AROUND MOUNT SHASTA. AFTER A
BRIEF LULL SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT, YET ANOTHER STORM IS
POISED TO MOVE IN SUNDAY INTO MONDAY WITH STRONG WINDS AND
TURBULENCE. SPILDE

&&

.MARINE...UPDATED 400 PM PST FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2015...EXPECT A
RELATIVE BREAK IN WINDS THIS EVENING, BUT THE NEXT STRONG FRONTAL
SYSTEM WILL MOVE IN LATER TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH GALE FORCE
SOUTH WINDS AND VERY STEEP HAZARDOUS SEAS. ANOTHER EVEN STRONGER
STORM IS EXPECTED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR
STORM FORCE WINDS AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SEAS. CONDITIONS WILL
BEGIN TO IMPROVE A BIT MONDAY INTO TUESDAY, BUT SEAS WILL LIKELY
REMAIN HAZARDOUS. SPILDE

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY FOR
        ORZ021-022-615-618-619.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
        ORZ030-031-624-625.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ029.

CA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CAZ085-285.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CAZ084-284.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CAZ081-281.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...STORM WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
        LATE SUNDAY NIGHT FOR PZZ350-356-370.
     GALE WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST SATURDAY FOR PZZ350-356-370-376.
     HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST SATURDAY FOR
        PZZ350-356-370-376.
     STORM WATCH FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
        FOR PZZ376.

15/15/15

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 6, 7:54 PM PST, 3 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
754 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0753 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SSW OBRIEN            42.05N 123.71W
02/06/2015  M4.47 INCH       JOSEPHINE          OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4.47 INCHES IN LAST 24 HOURS ENDING AT
            06/2000 PST, 4.01 INCHES SINCE MIDNIGHT.
            HEAVY RAIN DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER
            LOCATION 1 MI S OF OBRIEN.

&&

NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:07 PM PST, 2 hours 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
807 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0806 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SSE COOS BAY          43.34N 124.20W
02/06/2015  M1.72 INCH       COOS               OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12 HOUR TOTAL ENDING AT 2000 PST. HEAVY RAIN
            DURATION 12 HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION 1 MI S
            COOS BAY ON HWY 101.

&&

NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:21 PM PST, 2 hours 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
821 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0820 PM     HEAVY RAIN       7 ESE COOS BAY          43.35N 124.09W
02/06/2015  M2.42 INCH       COOS               OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ENDING AT 2000 PST. HEAVY RAIN DURATION 24
            HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION 12 MI SE OF COOS
            BAY.

&&

NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:23 PM PST, 2 hours 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
823 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0800 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NW MOUNT SHASTA       41.35N 122.36W
02/06/2015  M2.05 INCH       SISKIYOU           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN DURATION 12 HOURS. OBSERVER
            LOCATION BLACK BUTTE SUMMIT.

&&

WRIGHT

Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:25 PM PST, 2 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
825 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ROGUE RIVER             42.44N 123.16W
02/06/2015  M2.42 INCH       JACKSON            OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER
            LOCATION IN ROGUE RIVER ABOUT 1 OR 2 MILE NE
            OF CITY HALL.

&&

WRIGHT

Local storm report, Feb 6, 9:21 PM PST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
921 PM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0918 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 SSE ASHLAND           42.18N 122.69W
02/06/2015  M1.70 INCH       JACKSON            OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1.7 IN 12 HOURS ENDING AT 2100 PST. 3.5
            INCHES IN 24 HOURS. HEAVY RAIN DURATION 12
            HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION IN TOWN SE.

&&

NWS MEDFORD OR
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

2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Modoc County

When: February 6, 11:03 PM PST to February 7, 7:03 AM PST
Where: Modoc County forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.590, -120.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Rush Creek RAWS recorded a gust to 62 mph at 07/0003 PST, a gust to 63 mph at 07/0203 PST, and a peak gust of 65 mph at 07/0303 PST. The Timber Mountain RAWS recorded a peak gust to 62 mph at 07/0403 PST, a gust to 61 mph at 07/0603 PST and a gust to 58 mph at 07/0703 PST.

High Wind, North Central & Southeast Siskiyou County

When: February 7, 2:03 AM PST to 3:03 AM PST
Where: North Central & Southeast Siskiyou County forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.593, -122.540 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Bolam RAWS recorded a gust to 58 mph at 07/0303 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 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in California, February 2015

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: 552210, 552207.