Two significant wildfires impacted sections of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The Chimney Fire, which ignited near Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo county, burned over 46,000 acres.
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.
Two significant wildfires impacted sections of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The Chimney Fire, which ignited near Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo county, burned over 46,000 acres. The Rey Fire, which ignited in the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara county, burned over 33,000 acres.
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 Aug 13, 9:51 AM PST, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 1051 AM PDT SAT AUG 13 2016 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .SYNOPSIS... High pressure aloft and weak onshore flow will bring well above normal temperatures through early next week, with triple digit heat for many valley areas. Sunday and Monday will likely be the hottest days in most locations, when some records will be threatened. Night through morning low clouds and fog will continue to affect some coastal areas through next week. && .SHORT TERM...(TDY-MON) Satellite imagery showing low clouds and fog confined to mostly coastal areas this morning, with low clouds remaining off the coast of LA county. As expected, marine layer depth has shrunk since yesterday with the 12z Vandenberg sounding showing 1300 feet and ACARS sounding showing around 800 feet across the LA Basin. The decreased marine influence this morning being caused by a building ridge of high pressure over the area combined with weakening onshore flow. In fact, there is even a light northeast to east flow at the upper levels of the atmosphere which will enhance the warming trend across interior sections today. Profiler data at Simi Valley showing substantial warming (up 4 to 6 degrees celsius) in the boundary layer this morning. This should lead to significant warming in most areas away from the coast today. Max temps should rise to over 100 degrees today in the warmer valley locations such as Woodland Hills and Saugus today, and could approach 105 degrees near Paso Robles and the Antelope Valley. It will remain relatively cool on the coastal plain, with highs likely remaining in the 80s across inland sections, and in the 70s near the beaches. *** From previous discussion *** The upper ridge will strengthen and build into the region tonight and Sunday. The marine layer will continue to shrink in depth, with night through morning low clouds and fog confined to coastal locations within a few miles of the beaches. There could be some local dense fog tonight/Sun morning. Temps at 850 and 950 mb will rise Sunday, and max temps should rise a few more degrees, possibly approaching 110 degrees in the warmest locations in the Antelope Valley, and a bit above 105 degrees in the warmest valley locations in L.A., VTU and SLO Counties. Highs will likely rise to between 100 and 105 degrees in the lower mountain elevations Sunday, getting close to excessive heat warning criteria there. However, at this time, it does appear that dew points will be low enough to keep heat index values just below criteria. Highs across interior sections of the L.A. County coastal plain should reach or exceed 90 degrees on Sunday. Although a weak trough will move into northern and central CA Sunday night and Mon, it will have little if any effect on heights and thicknesses across our area. Expect the marine layer to remain shallow, with night through morning low clouds and fog confined to locations near the coast. Max temps should be about the same on Monday as they are Sunday in most areas, with possibly just a degree or two of cooling across northern areas and the Antelope Valley. .LONG TERM...(TUE-FRI) The GFS and EC are in good agreement showing an upper low moving across nrn and central CA on Tue, which will force the upper high across the forecast area southward. It should still be hot on Tue, although max temps will likely be down at least a couple of degrees in most areas. The upper low will push into the Great Basin on Wed, and heights/thicknesses across the region should fall more appreciably. The marine layer will deepen, and night thru morning clouds should push farther inland across the coastal plain. There should be a few degrees of cooling in most areas on Wed, although temps will probably still be a bit above normal. Additional short wave energy dropping down the West Coast will cause a sharpening trough across the region Thu. The GFS is stronger with this, and actually shows a weak closed low just west of the fcst area by Thu. Either way, expect the marine layer to deepen, with clouds pushing into some valley areas Wed night/Thu. General troffiness will linger across the region on Fri, so expect little change in night thru morning low cloud pattern or max temps. && .AVIATION...13/1745Z... At 17Z, the marine inversion at KLAX was based around 750 feet. The top of the inversion was 3300 feet with a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Overall, low confidence in coastal tafs, especially for the Central Coast sites. High confidence in all inland tafs. For tonight, will maintain near-persistence forecast for stratus coverage/arrival, but with low confidence. There is a 40% chance that KSMX and KSBP will remain vfr overnight. There is a 30% chance that KLAX and KLGB will see more limited ifr conds...or remain vfr through the period. KLAX...High confidence in vfr conds through early evening...but low confidence in overnight period. Low certainty in arrival time of ifr cigs and 30% chance that cigs will be mvfr or that the site will remain vfr. KBUR...High confidence in 18Z TAF with vfr conds thru the period. && .MARINE...13/800 AM... For the Outer Waters, moderate confidence in current forecast. From today through Sunday, northwest winds are generally expected to remain below Small Craft Advisory levels although there will likely be some gusts to 25 knots around Point Conception each afternoon and evening. These gusts will mainly be isolated but there is a 30% chance they will become more widespread this evening. On Monday, northwest winds are likely to increase with a 70% chance of Small Craft Advisory level winds in the late afternoon and evening. Winds are expected to weaken a bit Tuesday/Wednesday with only a slight chance of Small Craft Advisory conditions. For the Inner Waters, high confidence in current forecast. Conditions are expected to remain below Small Craft Advisory thresholds through Wednesday. Patchy dense fog with visibilities of one nautical mile or less will continue to impact all waters through this morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... 13/900 AM. Isolated single digit relative humidity is expected inland through Monday then will become widespread Tuesday through Wednesday with poor recovery. Normal diurnal wind changes are expected through the Monday then as a trough of low pressure approaches the area southwest winds will increase over the area Monday night and prevail through Wednesday night. The trough of low pressure is expected to become cutoff and settle offshore southwest of the area Thursday through Friday and the relative humidity will trend higher as light southeast wind develops over the area. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...NONE. PZ...NONE. && PUBLIC...Gomberg FIRE...30 AVIATION...Smith MARINE...Smith SYNOPSIS...Sukup weather.gov/losangeles
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 600 AM PDT SAT AUG 13 2016 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-141300- 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- 600 AM PDT SAT AUG 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE... TODAY PATCHY DENSE FOG WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS THROUGH MID MORNING ON THE CENTRAL COAST AND IN THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY. IT WILL BECOME HOT TODAY ACROSS THE VALLEYS... LOWER MOUNTAIN ELEVATIONS AND THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. * SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..SEE WWUS86 KLOX - SPSLOX FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AN EXTENDED HEAT WAVE IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR ACROSS INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA SUNDAY THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY. TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT WILL BE FAIRLY WIDESPREAD SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ACROSS THE VALLEY...LOWER MOUNTAIN ELEVATIONS AND THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. THE COMBINATION OF VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES...LOW HUMIDITIES...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL ALSO BRING AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ELEVATED FIRE DANGER TO INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...ESPECIALLY THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. * SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..SEE WWUS86 KLOX - SPSLOX FOR DETAILS * DB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 1258 PM PDT SAT AUG 13 2016 CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-142000- 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 AND SANTA BARBARA ISLANDS- SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY- LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY- 1258 PM PDT SAT AUG 13 2016 ...PROLONGED HEAT WAVE AND ELEVATED FIRE DANGER ACROSS INLAND AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... AN UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM COMBINED WITH WEAKENING ONSHORE FLOW NEAR THE SURFACE WILL BRING A PERIOD OF HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS INLAND AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE HEAT WAVE WILL BEGIN TODAY WHEN TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY AND WARMEST PORTIONS OF THE VALLEYS...FOOTHILLS...AND LOWER MOUNTAINS. SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE THE PEAK OF THE HEAT WAVE WHEN MANY VALLEY AND LOWER MOUNTAIN ELEVATIONS WILL CLIMB TO BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES...AND THE ANTELOPE VALLEY COULD SOAR AS HIGH AS 108 DEGREES. INLAND AREAS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN WILL ALSO BE VERY WARM DURING THIS PERIOD WITH PROJECTED HIGHS BETWEEN 85 AND 95 DEGREES. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES DURING THIS HEAT WAVE WILL ALSO REMAIN WARM WITH READINGS IN THE 70S ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE VALLEYS...MOUNTAINS...AND ANTELOPE VALLEY...ADDING TO THE HEAT DISCOMFORT. TEMPERATURES WILL TREND DOWN A FEW DEGREES BY WEDNESDAY...BUT REMAIN WARMER THAN NORMAL ACROSS INLAND AREAS. THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER ACROSS INLAND AREAS THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES...LOW HUMIDITIES...AND VERY DRY FUELS. ALTHOUGH HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER A BIT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH INCREASING ONSHORE WINDS ACROSS INTERIOR AREAS WILL KEEP ELEVATED FIRE DANGER DANGER THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY...APPROACHING CRITICAL LEVELS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ANTELOPE VALLEY. THE PROLONGED HEAT WAVE WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES...ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOMELESS...ELDERLY... INFANTS...AND ANYONE PARTICIPATING IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. IF HEADING OUTDOORS THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...REMEMBER YOUR HEAT SAFETY TIPS. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND WEAR LIGHT- COLORED AND LIGHT-WEIGHT CLOTHING. STAY OUT OF THE MIDDAY SUN IF POSSIBLE. NEVER LEAVE ANY PERSON OR PET IN A PARKED VEHICLE...EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME. KAPLAN/GOMBERG
2 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Chimney Fire ignited in northern San Luis Obispo county, near Lake Nacimiento. Due to hot and dry conditions, as well as historically dry vegetation, the fire grew very quickly. The fire burned into early September, before containment and scorched 46,344 acres.
The Rey Fire ignited in southern Santa Barbara county, in the Santa Ynez Mountains. . Due to hot and dry conditions, as well as historically dry vegetation, the fire grew very quickly. The fire burned into early September, before containment and scorched 33,606 acres.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in California, August 2016
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: 652811, 652812.