A large south swell progressed into Southern California on May 22nd and resulted in high surf late on the 22nd and into the 23rd. Highest surf was observed on the south facing beaches of Orange County.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 large south swell progressed into Southern California on May 22nd and resulted in high surf late on the 22nd and into the 23rd. Highest surf was observed on the south facing beaches of Orange County. San Diego County beaches also observed elevated surf conditions.
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 May 22, 1:00 PM PST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
200 PM PDT Tue May 22 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A deep upper level trough will move northeast out of the area this
afternoon and tonight, resulting in a gradual decrease in cloud
cover through Wednesday. Another area of low pressure will through
the region Friday through Sunday, so the below normal daytime
temperatures will continue through the weekend with periodic low
clouds west of the mountains. More marine layer low clouds are
likely early next week as well.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
Marine layer depth ranged from 4000 feet above sea level in San
Diego County to 5000 feet farther north this morning, with aircraft
soundings showing a slight lowering this afternoon. We had partial
clearing today, with greatest remaining stratus extent over Orange
County and northern parts of the Inland Empire. Some cumulus were
over the Big Bear area and the high deserts.
The upper low will move to the northeast mainly tonight and weaken
while some ridging forms over the interior southwestern US. Some
lowering of the marine layer will occur, with better afternoon
clearing Wednesday, especially inland. With onshore flow continuing
as well as the peak stratus season, we will still have a lot of
stratus around, especially nights and mornings, most of the week. An
upper level low will move into California Friday/Friday night, and
this will bring more cooling to inland areas, though the marine
layer effects here will depend partly on if we have a coastal eddy.
Right now, the GFS is saying no to the eddy until Sunday, so we may
end up with a decrease in stratus Friday/Saturday, especially with
cooling above the marine inversion. Models are inconsistent for
early next week, except for one thing--no significant ridging, and
yes to continued onshore flow. Thus, coastal low clouds are likely
to occur then, with temperatures at or a little below normal.
&&
.AVIATION...
222030Z...Coast/Valleys/Coastal Mountain Slopes...Stratus deck
hanging on at KSNA/KONT/KSBD while significant clearing has
developed elsewhere. Expect continued erosion of the cloud cover
with several hours of SCT conditions at the terminals through early
this evening. The marine layer will be much shallower
tonight/Wednesday morning. Expect low clouds to fill in again
beginning 03-05Z coastal terminals and 06-10Z inland terminals with
BKN IFR/MVFR conditions at the terminals thereafter. Will see bases
900-1300 feet MSL and tops 1500-2500 feet late tonight/ Wednesday
morning. Expect cloud deck to scatter out early Wednesday afternoon.
Mountain Crests/Desert Mountain Slopes/Deserts...VFR conditions with
clear skies through the period. Local west winds 15-25 kt with gusts
25-35 kt will occur on the desert mountain slopes and through San
Gorgonio Pass, with the strongest gusts late this afternoon and
evening.
&&
.MARINE...
No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Friday. Wind
gusts over 20 knots are likely over the outer waters Friday night
through Saturday night.
&&
.BEACHES...
A long-period swell from 200 degrees and resulting surf on south
facing beaches will peak today through Wednesday before subsiding
slowly Thursday and Friday. Check the beach hazard statement for all
the details.
&&
.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Beach Hazards Statement through Thursday afternoon for Orange
County Coastal Areas.
PZ...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC...Maxwell
AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...MorelandThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
At Huntington Beach, high surf of 7-8 ft was reported. The Wedge reported 7-10 ft sets.
Mission Beach Lifeguards and Oceanside Pier reported 4-6 ft surf due to the south swell.
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, May 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: 758232, 758234.