A trough of low pressure dove south and deepened along the California and Nevada boarder on March 30th. The trough brought with it strong mid and upper level winds and a cold front that helped strengthen mountain wave activity over the deserts.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 SGX wrote it up.
A trough of low pressure dove south and deepened along the California and Nevada boarder on March 30th. The trough brought with it strong mid and upper level winds and a cold front that helped strengthen mountain wave activity over the deserts. Winds associated with mountain waves downed trees/power lines in Palm Spring, leaving more than 2,200 with out power. Power line damage was also reported in Borrego Springs. Numerous wind gusts in the 60-70 mph range were reported in Palm Springs and Borrego Springs.
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 30, 12:45 PM PST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
145 PM PDT Thu Mar 30 2017
...Severe and potentially damaging winds this afternoon and evening
over the mountains and deserts...
.SYNOPSIS...
Strong to severe winds will impact the deserts this afternoon and
evening as a powerful low pressure trough moves across the Great
Basin. The winds will decrease tonight. Cooler Friday behind the
trough with winds shifting to the northeast. High pressure
rebuilding over the region Saturday will bring sunny and warm
weather this weekend. Cooler early next week as another trough moves
in from the northwest.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
Strong winds are surfacing in the High Desert this afternoon where a
62 mph wind gust was recorded at Barstow-Daggett Airport at 1 pm.
Burns Canyon had a gust to 67 mph.
A dynamic 546 dm upper low over western Nevada is digging south with
an incredibly strong 300 mb 150kt jet over northern California.
Convection has formed along and ahead of the surface cold front in
Nevada. The atmosphere down here is too dry, but the winds will be
very strong. 850 mb winds of 50-60 kt over the Mojave Desert will
shift southeast through evening. The high rez HRRR and WRF models
project the peak surface winds of 25-35 mph with gusts of 70 mph to
surface between 2-7 pm in the High Deserts. Even stronger gusts are
possible where mountain waves surface on the eastern slopes of the
SBD mountains. Burns Canyon may gust to 80 mph.
Some of this wind energy will also surface in parts of the Coachella
Valley and the San Diego County Deserts where gusts of 50-60 mph are
possible. Strong cross winds and reduced vis in blowing dust and
sand will create hazardous travel conditions. A High Wind Warning is
in effect through 11 pm this evening.
Onshore flow and a coastal eddy brought low clouds to the coastal
areas this afternoon. The clouds will spread a few miles inland
inland this evening, perhaps into the San Diego Valleys, before
retreating back to the coast early Friday morning as offshore flow
fills in behind the trough passage.
The deep upper low will be over northern AZ tonight and the winds
will shift from the west to the north through Friday morning. A
period of gusty north winds Friday morning will mainly impact the
lower deserts, the Cajon Pass and the Santa Ana mountains.
The trough slowly moves east over the weekend followed by ridging
and moderating temperatures Saturday and Sunday. An inside slider
trough will bring cooling Monday and Tuesday and gusty northwest
winds in the mtns and deserts, but much weaker than today.
A more pronounced ridge builds in Wednesday and Thursday for warmer
days. Temperatures will be way above average with coastal highs in
the 70s, valley highs in the 80s, mountain highs in the 60s, high
desert highs in the 80s and lower desert high in the 90s.
Long range outlook for late next week: A zonal Pacific jet will
break down the ridge with bring rain to Norcal, but at this time it
doesn't look like it will dig deep enough to bring rain to Southern
California.
&&
.AVIATION...
302000Z...Areas of low clouds and fog along the coast this afternoon
will spread 5-10 miles inland through 06Z Fri...mostly in San Diego
County. Expect bases 1000-1500 ft MSL and tops to 2000 ft MSL. Vis
restrictions are likely where clouds and terrain intersect. Low
clouds could spread inland to the coastal slopes by 06Z, before
northeast to east winds develop and begin to clear out the low
clouds. Otherwise, mostly clear skies through tonight.
Mountains and deserts...areas of winds 25-35 KT with gusts 40-50 KT
this afternoon through tonight near mountain crests, desert mountain
slopes and some lower elevation desert locations. Strong and
variable winds are expected at KPSP and KTRM, with peak winds likely
between 23-04Z this afternoon/eve. Strong up/downdrafts and LLWS
will occur over and east of the mtns, with isolated vis reductions
in blowing dust/sand in the deserts. Winds will diminish after 09Z
Fri.
&&
.MARINE...
Strong west to northwest winds are developing this afternoon and
will continue into early Friday, particularly in the outer coastal
waters. A small craft advisory contains the details on winds and
seas. In portions of the outer waters, winds will gust over 30 knots
at times and combined seas could exceed 10 feet. Winds and seas will
diminish Friday morning. No hazardous marine weather is expected
through Sunday, but strong winds could return Monday.
&&
.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 11 PM PDT this evening for Apple and
Lucerne Valleys-Coachella Valley-Riverside County Mountains-
San Bernardino County Mountains-San Diego County Deserts-
San Diego County Mountains-San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM PDT Friday for Waters from San
Mateo point to the Mexican Border Extending 30 to 60 nm out
including San Clemente Island.
&&
PUBLIC...Moede
AVIATION/MARINE...PGThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Burns Canyon mesonet station reported peak wind gusts in excess of 70 mph over a 4 hour period. The strongest gust of 94 mph occurred between 1351 and 1451PST.
Palm Springs Office of Emergency Management reported an injury from an awning blowing down at a mobile home park near Palm Canyon Dr. and Cherokee Way. A Large tree crushed a car at the Oasis Resort in Palm Springs and power lines were downed near the Horizon Mobile Park at 3575 E. Palm Canyon Dr.
California Highway Patrol reported Varner Rd. in Bermuda Dunes closed due to blowing sand. A tree was uprooted on Fred Waring Dr. west of Adams St.
The Means Lake mesonet station reported a 61 mph wind gust between 1526 and 1626PST. Victorville, Southern California Logistics Airport reported a wind gust of 60 mph between 1535 and 1555PST. The San Bernardino Sheriffs Office reported hundreds of tumbleweeds blocking all lanes of National Trails Highway near Mills Street a 1600PST.
The ANA Inspiration Golf Tournament at Mission Hills County Club in Rancho Mirage was suspended due to strong winds.
Two historic aircraft (1 plane and 1 helicopter) were damaged at the Palm Springs Air Museum after being lifted by strong winds.
The Anza Borrego Desert Research Center mesonet reported numerous wind gusts in excess of 58 mph over a 5 hour period. A peak gust of 69 mph occurred between 1820 and 1830PST. Roof and awning damage occurred at the Desert Research Center. In Borrego Springs power poles and street signs were blown over by wind along Borrego Valley Rd.
A mountain wave surfaced multiple times at Palm Springs Regional Airport producing multiple wind gusts in excess of 60 mph over a 6 hour period. The strongest wind gust was 66 mph at 1515PST.
A tree fell onto a golf cart at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, trapping two people and leaving one in critical condition.
VillageFest in Palm Springs was canceled due to strong winds.
California Highway Patrol reported a traffic light twisted due to high wind at the intersection of Monterey Ave. and Ramon Rd. in Thousand Palms.
California Highway Patrol reported high winds blowing rocks into lanes along Highway 74.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in California, March 2017
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: 687556, 687584, 687592, 687552, 687982, 687984, 687561, 687580, 687586, 687985, 687582, 687590.