Dust Storm and Heavy Snow in California, October 11 to 12, 2021

Name: Dust Storm and Heavy Snow in California, October 11 to 12, 2021
Start: 2021-10-11T06:00
End: 2021-10-12T21:00
Location: California

October 11 to 12, 2021 · NWS SGX · 11 events in 6 counties and zones

A potent area of low pressure produced strong winds along with rain and mountain snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: $5,000
Events: 11

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 SGX wrote it up.

A potent area of low pressure produced strong winds along with rain and mountain snow.

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 Oct 11, 1:54 AM PST, 4 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 11, 1:54 AM PST, 4 hours 6 minutes before

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 high wind, 2 dust storm, 2 high surf, 1 winter weather, 1 strong wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

When: October 11, 6:00 AM PST to October 12, 6:00 AM PST
Where: San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusty winds occurred across the area with Whitewater measuring a peak wind gust of 64 MPH.

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When: October 11, 7:00 AM PST to October 12, 2:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusts over 50 MPH reported, including a 66 MPH report at Mesonet Boulevard West on October 11th.

High Wind, San Diego County Deserts

When: October 11, 9:00 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Deserts forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusts over 50 MPH throughout the region, including a 62 MPH gust at Anza Borrego State Park.

High Wind, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When: October 11, 11:00 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusty winds over 55 MPH throughout the region with a 64 MPH report at Whitewater RAWS.

Dust Storm, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When: October 11, 2:00 PM PST to 6:00 PM PST
Where: Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

AWOS station KVCV Victorville Airport reports visibility of 1/2 mile in blowing sand and dust between 3 pm and 7 pm. Peak wind gust of 49 MPH.

Dust Storm, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When: October 11, 2:00 PM PST to 6:00 PM PST
Where: Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotter reports visibility less than 1/2 mile in blowing dust.

Winter Weather, San Bernardino County Mountains

When: October 11, 3:00 PM PST to October 12, 12:00 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Caltrans CHP reported about 1 inch of snow on Highway 38. Brief heavy snow and small hail (lightning) was observed on the highway between 5 and 530 pm. This led to vehicle spin outs and caused traffic problems.

Strong Wind, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When: October 11, 5:00 PM PST to 10:00 PM PST
Where: Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 30 kt (35 mph) estimated gust
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Media reports large tree down in the parking lot at pavilion in La Quinta. Winds estimated near 35 MPH. Gusty winds occurred across the Coachella Valley with a peak wind gust of 53 MPH at Palm Springs ASOS and 47 MPH at the Thermal ASOS.

High Surf, San Diego County Coastal Areas

When: October 11, 9:00 PM PST to October 12, 6:00 AM PST
Where: San Diego County Coastal Areas forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Buoy 46224 over the coastal waters reported 10 foot waves at 10 second period.

High Surf, San Diego County Coastal Areas

When: October 11, 9:00 PM PST to October 12, 6:00 AM PST
Where: San Diego County Coastal Areas forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Buoy 46225 over the coastal waters reported 11.5 foot waves with a 10 second period.

Heavy Snow, San Bernardino County Mountains

When: October 12, 9:00 AM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Caltrans chp reported about 1 inch of snow on Highway 38. Brief heavy snow and small hail (lightning) was observed on highway between 5 and 530 pm. Vehicle spin outs caused traffic hold up and requiring towing.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Dust Storm: Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Surf: Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in California, October 2021

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 988228, 986860, 986857, 986856, 986915, 986916, 986919, 986859, 986917, 986918, 988229.