California, 2022Wildfire in California, September 5 to 17, 2022
September 5 to 17, 2022 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The Fairview Fire began burning around 3:37 PM PDT on September 5th at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road in Hemet. Evacuation orders were quickly put in place and then expanded several hours later.
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- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 3
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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 Fairview Fire began burning around 3:37 PM PDT on September 5th at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road in Hemet. Evacuation orders were quickly put in place and then expanded several hours later. The fire consumed 28,307 acres, destroyed 35 properties, and damaged 6 properties before full containment. Two fatalities were also attributed to the Fairview Fire.
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 Sep 5, 12:06 PM PST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 5, 12:06 PM PST, 2 hours 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
106 PM PDT Mon Sep 5 2022
.SYNOPSIS...
Strong high pressure to the north will continue the heat wave
through the end of the work week. For next weekend, another tropical
system to the south, will increase the moisture levels and humidity,
along with the chance of more widespread showers and thunderstorms.
Showers and humidity will linger early next week, but the strong
ridge over the West will be much weaker and eventually give way to a
weak trough near the Coast. This should set us up for cooler weather
as we move through next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
Skies were mostly clear over SoCal at midday, and the hot September
sun was heating the mountain tops enough to pop a few cumulus
clouds. Surface pressure gradients across SoCal were weakly offshore
from the high deserts, and this was still supporting easterly winds
of 15-25 MPH over the mountains. It is another hot one with many
areas at noon running warmer than yesterday.
Our latest forecast guidance shows strong high pressure aloft,
holding firm over the West, with some increase in strength in the
coming days. This will keep us in a deep easterly flow aloft over
SoCal, except it will be a bit drier. This will keep thunderstorms
out of the forecast until late in the week when moisture associated
with Tropical Cyclone Kay could reach us. In the meantime, the drier
air will likely result in a greater daily range in temperatures. A
bit cooler overnight, but a few degrees hotter in the afternoons,
especially inland.
For Friday into the weekend...Tropical Storm Kay may come close
enough to begin influencing the weather over SoCal. The official NHC
track has the weakened center 240 miles SSW of San Diego Saturday
morning 12Z. The track remains uncertain though. Latest trends show
the massive high over the interior U.S. slowing forward progress and
turning Kay more westerly along 30N Latitude before stalling over
the Pacific. GFS/ECMWF ensemble solutions do show an impressive PW
surge here over the weekend. Many solutions are over two inches!
Even without deep convection, the easterly gradient flow into the
mountains should be sufficient for orographic rain with a few
embedded thunderstorms. If/when we get enough sun, maybe Sun/Mon,
count on thunderstorm activity to be prolific over the mountains.
Significant POPS are in the forecast for us beginning Friday night.
Ahead of the moisture surge though, could be another surge of heat.
The ensemble solutions from both the GFS/ECMWF models are
overwhelmingly hot through Friday, likely enhanced by the approach
of Kay and increasing offshore gradient downsloping off the
mountains. Because of this, the Excessive Heat Warning has been
extended through Friday for the coastal basin.
Looking beyond the coming weekend...There is some weak troughing and
moisture lingering through early next week. This will likely keep
the threat of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast, especially
over the mountains through Tuesday. That will be followed by a drier
SW flow aloft, a deep marine layer, and cooler, but still fairly
humid weather.
&&
.AVIATION...
051915Z...FEW-SCT clouds at/above 12000 feet MSL with unrestricted
VIS will continue today and tonight. Patchy fog possible along coast
after 06Z tonight into Tuesday. Bases would be around 600-1000 feet
MSL with vis 3-6SM. Low confidence on widespread or long lasting
cigs at coastal airports.
&&
.MARINE...
No marine weather hazards are expected through Thursday. Tropical
Storm Kay could bring large swell from the south or southeast, brisk
easterly winds, and a small chance of thunderstorms Friday.
&&
.BEACHES...
South swells will bring elevated surf and occasional high rip
current risk to Orange County this week. Stronger swells generated
by tropical cyclone Kay could bring higher surf and strong rip and
longshore currents to Orange County late Friday through the weekend.
Stay tuned for additional updates.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Strong high pressure to the north will continue the heat wave all
week. Moisture is decreasing across the region from north to south
through Tuesday, decreasing the chance for isolated thunderstorm
development in the afternoons. There remains a 5-10% chance for a
dry lightning strike, mainly north of San Diego County today. Gusty
outflow winds are still possible as well. The intense afternoon heat
will result in large mixing heights, and increase the potential for
plume dominated fires should any new starts occur. By next weekend,
a tropical system to the south will increase the moisture and
humidity values, and could bring more widespread showers and
thunderstorms with wetting rain through the weekend.
&&
.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
&&
PUBLIC/FIRE WEATHER...10
AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...Adams
Wildfire, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire
- When
- September 5, 2:37 PM PST to September 17, 6:38 AM PST
- Where
- San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Fairview Fire began burning around 3:37 PM PDT on September 5th at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road in Hemet. Evacuation orders were quickly put in place and then expanded several hours later. The fire consumed 28,307 acres, destroyed 35 properties, and damaged 6 properties before full containment. Two fatalities were also attributed to the Fairview Fire. As of 7:38 AM PDT on September 17th, the fire was 98% contained with crews working to patrol and for and monitor any smoldering material.
- 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, September 5 to 8, 20222 deaths · 7 events
- Heat in Arizona, September 5 to 6, 20222 deaths · 2 events
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, September 5, 20221 death · 1 event
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Rhode Island, September 5 to 6, 20223 injured · $1.0 million · 17 events
- Wildfire in Washington, September 5 to 29, 2022$190,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Massachusetts, September 5 to 6, 202210 events
- Flash Flooding in New York, September 5, 20229 events
- Excessive Heat in California, September 5 to 8, 20227 events
- Flash Flooding in Connecticut, September 5 to 6, 20225 events
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, September 5 to 7, 20224 events
- Flash Flooding in Arkansas, September 5, 20224 events
- Flash Flooding in Kentucky, September 5 to 6, 20223 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: 1051016.