An upper trough moved across California on April 18 which brought gusty winds, much cooler temperatures and some light precipitation to the area. Precipitation amounts were generally on the light side as many stations only picked up a trace to a few hundredths of an inch of measurable precipitation.
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 HNX wrote it up.
An upper trough moved across California on April 18 which brought gusty winds, much cooler temperatures and some light precipitation to the area. Precipitation amounts were generally on the light side as many stations only picked up a trace to a few hundredths of an inch of measurable precipitation. However, gusty winds prevailed between the evening of April 17 and the afternoon of April 18 over the usually wind prone areas in the mountains and deserts of Kern County. Several stations reported gusts exceeding 45 mph and a few stations briefly had gusts exceeding 60 mph.
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 18, 12:13 AM PST, 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 113 AM PDT Tue Apr 18 2023 .SYNOPSIS... The cooling trend will continue today as the weather disturbance moves through our area, with temperatures in the valley in the low to mid 60's. This disturbance will also bring increased winds to the whole CWA, but they will be strongest in the Mojave Desert valley and slopes. Yosemite National Park may see a tenth of an inch to an inch of snow today as this weather system moves through. Dry weather will prevail Wednesday and continue into the weekend, causing temperature in the valley to rise to the low to mid 80's. && .DISCUSSION... The bottom of an upper level trough will clip our CWA today, which will cause slightly increased winds for the valley and stronger winds for the Mojave Desert slopes and valley. Winds for the Mojave Desert slopes may be 35 to 45 mph sustained with 55 mph gusts possible. The Mojave Desert valley could see 20 to 30 mph sustained winds with 45 mph gusts. This would be hazardous for driving, especially when operating a high profile vehicle. This weather disturbance being brought in may bring in some very light snow for Yosemite National Park and areas just to the south, with a tenth of an inch to an inch possible this morning and into midday. This will clear out by this afternoon and remain dry into the next week. An upper level ridge will begin developing as the trough moves out over the Midwest, which will calm the winds and cause temperatures to rise. Temperatures could reach the low to mid 80's in the valley by Saturday and Sunday as a result. The probability that the valley will reach 80 degrees or above on Saturday is 70-80%, while the probability the valley will reach 80 degrees or higher on Sunday is 85-90%. There are hints of a slight cool down by Tuesday, with highs decreasing to the high 70's. However, dry weather will continue to prevail through the next week. && .AVIATION... Winds will gust to around 45 kt over mountain ridges and through and below the passes in Kern County, leading to areas of blowing dust in desert areas. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail across central California for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... ISSUED: 04/17/2023 13:02 EXPIRES: 04/18/2023 23:59 None. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium. 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.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 2 AM PDT Wednesday for CAZ337>339. && public...EW aviation....EW weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Southern California Edison station at Cottonwood Creek West measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
The Walker Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in California, April 2023
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: 1081833, 1081832.