California, 2018Wildfire in California, July 6 to 10, 2018
July 6 to 10, 2018 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The West Fire started on 7/06 in Alpine and quickly spread to over 400 acres in a few short hours. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 West Fire started on 7/06 in Alpine and quickly spread to over 400 acres in a few short hours. The cause of the fire is unknown. Extreme temperatures from high pressure aloft and low relative humidity helped to exasperate the fire. Evacuations were put into place, and approximately 50 structures were damaged or destroyed. One firefighter was injured. The fire was fully contained on 7/10.
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 San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 6, 7:49 AM PST, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 7:49 AM PST, 2 hours 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
849 AM PDT Fri Jul 6 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
Very hot weather today will result from a strong high pressure
ridge over the West. Moisture will increase from the southeast
will bring a small chance of thunderstorms in the mountains today
and a greater chance for the coming days through next week.
Temperatures will very gradually decrease over the weekend and
next week as the high weakens.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
Low clouds have become a thing of the past as high pressure aloft
has squashed the marine layer almost down to nothing. Areas of
offshore winds have begun in some foothills, with spots in San
Diego County gusting 25-30 mph. This offshore flow will compress
and dry out the air to boost the heating we will all feel today.
Today's temperatures are likely to break quite a few daily records
across the region and we should all find a place to stay cool.
Another wrinkle in our forecast today is the increasing moisture
at mid levels arriving from the southeast. We have a very small
chance of thunderstorms in the forecast for the mountains this
afternoon, but instability and depth of moisture are very marginal
today. Temperatures will decrease Saturday as the high aloft
relaxes a little and moisture from the east increases and boosts
humidity. Tonight we actually get a coastal eddy to develop, which
will help make the cooling trend noticeable near the coast on
Saturday. Farther inland temperatures will only decrease by a few
degrees. Chances for thunderstorms increase each day Saturday,
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as the easterly flow continues to
funnel monsoon moisture into the region. A couple easterly waves
could add a bit of energy this weekend, and again Monday into
Tuesday, that could present a chance of thunderstorms west of the
mountains, and/or during nights and mornings. It's a bit of a
monsoon mess that will make it hard to pinpoint the timing and
location of thunderstorms. Right now the deepest moisture and
greater potential for heavy rain appears Monday into Wednesday.
With the greater cloud cover and humidity, temperatures will be
mercifully lower next week, but will continue above average and it
will feel muggy. There are some clues that moisture decreases
later next week for less chance of thunderstorms. Onshore flow
increases during the week, possibly opening the door for a marine
layer to develop and coastal clouds to reappear.
&&
.AVIATION...
061530Z...Small chance of patchy low clouds with bases 800-1000 ft
MSL near KSAN tonight and impacts at KSAN are unlikely. Otherwise
SCT clouds at/above 12000 ft MSL through Saturday morning. Gusty
easterly winds will produce weak to mdt up/downdrafts and LLWS over
and west of the mtns through this afternoon, but impacts at TAF
sites are doubtful. Slight chance of TSRA- over the mountains this
afternoon, with strong up/downdrafts and erratic, gusty surface
winds. CB bases 10000-12000 ft MSL layered to 30000 ft MSL.
&&
.MARINE...
No hazardous marine weather is expected through Tuesday.
&&
.BEACHES...
South swells from Post Tropical Cyclone Fabio will continue high
surf and dangerous rip currents along south and southwest-facing
beaches of Orange and northern San Diego Counties through tonight.
Surf peaks this morning with sets 5-7 ft. High surf and strong rip
and longshore currents will create extremely hazardous conditions
for swimmers at all So Cal beaches. A High Surf Advisory remains in
effect through 9 PM this evening.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Strong high pressure aloft and weak offshore flow will bring very
hot weather inland from the beaches today with lowest inland
humidities of 5 to 10 percent today. Those low humidities combined
with gusty east winds to 30 mph will cause near critical fire
weather conditions for the coastal slopes of the mountains into
the inland valleys through midday. For this afternoon, mid level
monsoonal moisture will slowly increase with a slight chance of
thunderstorms with dry lightning and strong gusty winds. The
chance of thunderstorms increases Saturday, but with higher
humidity and a better chance of wetting rains.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Record high temperatures that could be tied or broken on today and
Saturday based on the current forecast high temperatures. Some record
high minimum temperatures are likely for tonight as well.
Friday...
Location Forecast Existing record
Newport Beach 89 80 in 1936
San Diego 91 84 in 1981
Vista 98 92 in 1981
Chula Vista 93 84 in 2014
Riverside 115 108 in 1907
Escondido 106 102 in 1940
El Cajon 111 96 in 1996
Ramona 110 100 in 2017
Alpine 107 104 in 1957
Campo 104 104 in 1976
Thermal 116 116 in 1954
Saturday...
Location Forecast Existing record
Newport Beach 86 79 in 1931
Vista 94 93 in 1984
Chula Vista 85 85 in 2011
El Cajon 98 97 in 1985
Ramona 102 102 in 2017
&&
.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Riverside County
Mountains-San Bernardino County Mountains-San Diego County
Coastal Areas-San Diego County Mountains.
Excessive Heat Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for Apple and
Lucerne Valleys-Coachella Valley-San Diego County Deserts-
San Diego County Valleys-San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning-
Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills.
Excessive Heat Warning until 9 PM PDT Saturday for Orange County
Inland Areas-San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-
The Inland Empire.
High Surf Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Orange County
Coastal Areas-San Diego County Coastal Areas.
Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT Saturday for Orange County Coastal
Areas.
PZ...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC/FIRE/CLIMATE...MM/17
AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...PGWildfire, San Diego County Mountains
- When
- July 6, 10:00 AM PST to July 10, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The West Fire started around 1015 PST on 07/06 and quickly spread to 400 acres by 1600 PST. The fire started for unknown reasons alongside eastbound I-8 at West Willows Road in Alpine. Extreme temperatures and low relative humidity helped exasperate the fire. Most of the Alpine community was evacuated from their homes. The fast-moving brush fire destroyed or damaged approximately 50 structures. One firefighter was injured while battling the blaze. In total, the fire burned 505 acres and was fully contained 7/10 around 1600 PST.
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Excessive Heat in Nevada, July 6 to 10, 20189 deaths · 1 event
- Excessive Heat in California, July 6 to 7, 20181 death · 50 injured · 4 events
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 6, 20181 death · 2 injured · $5,000 · 50 kt wind · 7 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Arkansas, July 6 to 8, 20181 death · $2,000 · 61 kt wind · 6 events
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, July 6 to 7, 2018$203,000 · 54 kt wind · 11 events
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 6, 2018$55,000 · 50 kt wind · 18 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Georgia, July 6 to 7, 2018$68,000 · 1 in hail · 13 events
- Flood and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, July 6, 2018$74,000 · 50 kt wind · 8 events
- Damaging Winds in Mississippi, July 6, 2018$68,000 · 50 kt wind · 4 events
- Flood and Damaging Wind in Massachusetts, July 6, 2018$41,000 · 5 events
- Lightning Strike in Florida, July 6, 2018$45,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Winds in Texas, July 6 to 10, 2018$28,000 · 50 kt wind · 4 events
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: 775713.