A weak trough from the Pacific Northwest progressed through Southern California on the 11th and 12th, bringing gusty winds to the Coachella Valley, San Bernardino County Mountains, and San Diego County Deserts. Palm Springs Airport diverted 4 planes early on the 12th due to wind shear on final approach.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 weak trough from the Pacific Northwest progressed through Southern California on the 11th and 12th, bringing gusty winds to the Coachella Valley, San Bernardino County Mountains, and San Diego County Deserts. Palm Springs Airport diverted 4 planes early on the 12th due to wind shear on final approach. The opening of the Coachella Festival was delayed due to wind. California Highway Patrol reported a palm tree down in the road, as well as power lines down and power outages in the Coachella Valley.
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 Apr 11, 8:20 PM PST, 3 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
920 PM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
For tonight into Thursday...expect strong winds over the
mountains, deserts and coastal waters, and breezy conditions over
coastal areas. There may be some light precipitation along and
west of the mountains early Thursday as well. It will be much
cooler on Thursday, then warmer over the weekend as winds turn
offshore under a high pressure ridge.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
...Update...
Winds have increased this evening with peak gusts from the
mountain crests to the deserts in the 40-50 mph range. CHP
reported a palm tree downed just SW of Coachella. Blowing dust
was seen on visible satellite imagery as well. Thermal, after
reaching a record-breaking 103F degrees today, then saw visibility
drop to 1 1/4 mile in blowing dust this evening. A High Wind
Warning remains in effect through Thursday at 2 PM from the
mountain ridges to the deserts. However, latest WRF run shows
another peak in the wind occurring over the lower deserts/Coachella
Valley late afternoon-early evening on Thursday, so an extension
in time of the High Wind Warning may be needed.
West of the mountains winds are much lighter. Marine layer
stratus has filled into the inland valleys of San Diego County
with less low overcast across Orange County. Light rain is
possible overnight through early Thursday morning across San Diego
county and to the coastal mountain slopes with rainfall amounts
of just a hundredth of an inch or so, but just enough to make
roads slick in spots.
...Previous Discussion (Issued at 142 PM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018)...
A low pressure trough approaching the coast to our north moves
inland on Thu, sfc pressures will decrease further and westerly
winds will continue to increase over the mts/deserts where a High
Wind Warning goes into effect for this evening through midday Thu.
The winds will likely peak early Thu morning when gusts of 60 mph
are expected and local gusts to 70 mph will be possible. As the
trough moves east on Thu, the winds will slowly subside, but it
will remain breezy into the evening. Some light precipitation may
develop along and west of the mts early Thu morning as forcing
from the trough convects the moisture in the boundary layer,
otherwise it will remain dry. Temps will be much lower on Thursday
as the trough brings colder air from the east PAC into SOCAL.
A warming trend begins on Fri as the trough moves east, a high
pressure ridge builds in from the west and offshore flow begins
to develop. Saturday will likely be the warmest day with inland
temps in the 80s as the ridge peaks over SOCAL.
Another low pressure trough moves in from the east PAC early next
week, bringing another round of gusty winds and cooler weather.
This will be followed by fair and warmer weather mid next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
120315Z...Coast/Valleys...Stratus with bases 1500-1900 ft MSL will
push into the inland valleys and lower mountain slopes overnight.
Bases lifting to 2000-3000 ft MSL by 12Z, then clearing 14-17Z.
Otherwise scattered high clouds through Thursday evening.
Mountains/Deserts...West to southwest winds will strengthen this
overnight, with gusts of 45 to 55 kt mainly along mountain ridges,
desert mountain slopes, and into adjacent desert areas. Rotors,
LLWS, and Up/Downdrafts are possible over and east of the mountains.
Otherwise, scattered high clouds through Thu evening.
&&
.MARINE...
Northwest wind gusts of 25-35 kt and combined seas of 10-13 ft will
continue through Thursday night as an upper-level trough moves
across the region. Gusts could locally reach gale force at times. A
Small Craft Advisory remains in effect through 5 AM Friday.
Conditions will improve over the weekend, then winds will increase
again on 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 2 PM PDT Thursday 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 5 AM PDT Friday for Coastal Waters
from San Mateo Point to the Mexican Border and out to 30 nm-
Waters from San Mateo point to the Mexican Border Extending
30 to 60 nm out including San Clemente Island.
&&
PUBLIC...Gregoria (Update)/PG (Prev Discussion)
AVIATION/MARINE...SSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 52 mph wind gust reported at Means Lake, along with minor tree damage in Lucerne Valley.
Mountain wave activity resulted wind gusts over 70 mph for 5 hours with a peak gust of 84 mph in Burns Canyon. Winds were briefly sustained as high as 55 mph at the site. Winds were significantly lighter in the rest of the zone.
Palm Springs Airport ASOS reported a gust of 51 mph around 1800 PST on the 12th. Earlier that day, 4 planes were diverted from PSP due to wind shear on final approach. Numerous power outages were reported in Palm Springs, as well as downed trees and power lines.
Wind gusts of 69 mph were reported at Whitewater RAWS, with a gust of 59 mph also reported in Sky Valley between 0650 and 0850 PST. Indian Canyon Drive was closed to all traffic for 7 hours between Garnett Ave. and West Tramview Rd. due to high winds and blowing sand. High winds caused a tractor-trailer to flip on its side at San Rafael Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. All restaurants and gas stations were closed at Indian Canyon Drive and I-10 on the 12th. High winds downed 2 power poles in North Palm Springs. Numerous power outages occured in the vicinity of Indian Canyon.
Mesonet stations in Borrego Springs and Ocotillo Wells reported wind gusts of 53 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in California, April 2018
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: 751272, 751258, 751226, 751247, 751275.