High Wind in California, April 19, 2018

Name: High Wind in California, April 19, 2018
Start: 2018-04-19T07:27
End: 2018-04-19T16:20
Location: California

April 19, 2018 · NWS HNX · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

An upper low pressure system crossed Northern California on April 19. This system was moisture deficient and produced only scattered light showers.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 HNX wrote it up.

An upper low pressure system crossed Northern California on April 19. This system was moisture deficient and produced only scattered light showers. However, it did produce strong winds in the Kern County Mountains and Deserts. Several locations measured wind gusts above 45 mph while gusts above 60 mph were reported in the Mojave area. A tractor trailer was blown over at the intersection of SR 58 and SR 14 north of Mojave which was closed for a few hours during the afternoon.

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 Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 19, 3:51 AM PST, 3 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 19, 3:51 AM PST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
451 AM PDT Thu Apr 19 2018

.SYNOPSIS...A weather system will bring a chance of mainly light
shower today, mostly over the mountains. Winds will become breezy
to windy today then diminish tonight. Dry weather along with a
significant warming trend is expected Friday through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Upper low over California this morning with radar
showing precipitation mainly confined to coastal areas around
Point Conception. There has been some light to moderate showers
inland across the Sierra Nevada overnight. Snow levels ranging
from 4000-5000 feet and some light snow was observed falling in
Shaver Lake via webcam.

The low will pivot inland to over Southern Nevada this afternoon.
Scattered, mostly light showers are expected with the orographic
influences giving the best chances over the mountains. Rainfall
will be paltry in the San Joaquin Valley with many areas remaining
dry. Those that do see rain will likely only receive a trace to a
few hundredths of an inch. The Sierra can generally expect amounts
from one to two tenths of an inch liquid, or 1-2 inches of snow.
The Kern County Mountains could get up to one tenth of an inch
liquid. Some snow is possible along the Kern Co mountain passes
later this morning, with generally just a dusting to 1 inch of
accumulation. Precipitation will taper off this evening with just
a few light showers possible in the Sierra Nevada.

The onshore surface pressure gradient continues to increase this
morning and winds are trending higher. Have issued a Wind Advisory
for the Kern County Mountains and Desert from 8 AM this morning
through 11 PM this evening. West to northwest winds of 20 to 30
mph are expected with gusts up to 55 mph. The strongest winds will
occur through and just below the mountain passes from afternoon
into the early evening. Strong cross winds and blowing dust are
will make for hazardous travels conditions. Winds will gradually
diminish tonight through Friday morning.

High pressure will build in on Friday for a return to dry weather
along with a warming trend that will continue through the weekend.
Temperatures are forecast to climb to as much as 15 degrees above
normal by Sunday with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s across
the SJ Valley and Kern Co. Desert. Medium range models continue to
struggle with the pattern next week. Some light precipitation will
be possible as early as Tuesday night. A modest cooling trend is
indicated through midweek, but highs still remaining above normal.

&&

.AVIATION...
Expect scattered showers over the mountains, producing areas of
IFR/LIFR and terrain obscurations in clouds and precipitation
through 00Z Fri. Strong gusty winds to 45 knots across Eastern
Kern County mountains and desert between 15Z Thur and 06Z Fri.
Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail across the Central CA
Interior during the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium.

Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit
www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.php for additional information
an/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT this evening
CAZ095-098-099.

&&

public...DCH
avn/fw...JEB
synopsis...DCH

weather.gov/hanford

Event by event

6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: April 19, 7:27 AM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Bird Springs Pass RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 75 mph.

High Wind, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: April 19, 2:25 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mojave Warren Siding reported a peak wind gust of 60 mph.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: April 19, 3:14 PM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Jawbone Canyon RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 70 mph.

High Wind, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: April 19, 3:15 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: AWOS

California Highway Patrol reported road closure of SR 58 at exit 165 north of Mojave due to strong wind gusts. A tractor trailer was blown over. The Mojave Airport AWOS reported a peak wind gusts of 60 mph at that time.

High Wind, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: April 19, 4:06 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Cache Creek reported a peak wind gust of 63 mph.

High Wind, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: April 19, 4:20 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS

The Mojave Airport AWOS reported a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

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 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in California, April 2018

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: 740948, 740953, 740949, 740955, 740950, 740951.