California, 2023Dust Storm and High Wind in California, April 3, 2023
April 3, 2023 · NWS PSR · 5 events in 3 counties and zones
An anomalous upper-level low pressure system moving in from the eastern Pacific moved across the west coast of the United States. This resulted in a tightening of the pressure gradient and thus strong westerly winds across portions of Imperial County, especially the western half of the county, where widespread gusts of between 50-70 mph along with areas of blowing dust significantly reducing…
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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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- Floods
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- Heat and drought
- Cold
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Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
An anomalous upper-level low pressure system moving in from the eastern Pacific moved across the west coast of the United States. This resulted in a tightening of the pressure gradient and thus strong westerly winds across portions of Imperial County, especially the western half of the county, where widespread gusts of between 50-70 mph along with areas of blowing dust significantly reducing visibilities were observed.
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 2, 3:54 PM PST, 11 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 3:54 PM PST, 11 hours 22 minutes before
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</html>Event by event
3 high wind, 1 dust storm, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Dust Storm, Imperial County West
- When
- April 3, 3:16 AM PST to 7:20 PM PST
- Where
- Imperial County West forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 33.040, -115.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
SR-86 closed from the Riverside County line to Poe Road due to dust and strong winds. Caltrans reported near zero visibility near SR-86 and SR-78. No damages or injuries were reported.
High Wind, Imperial Valley
- When
- April 3, 11:20 AM PST
- Where
- Imperial Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 33.040, -115.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 67 mph gust was measured at the El Centro Naval Air Facility.
Strong Wind, Imperial County West
- When
- April 3, 12:30 PM PST
- Where
- Imperial County West forecast zone
- Measured
- 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 33.040, -115.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Semi truck rolled over along SR-86, just south of Salton City, injuring the driver. The two southbound lanes on the highway were blocked. Winds at the time estimated to be 35-45 mph.
High Wind, Imperial Valley
- When
- April 3, 12:43 PM PST
- Where
- Imperial Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 33.040, -115.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 63 mph gust was measured at Imperial County Airport.
High Wind, Imperial County Southwest
- When
- April 3, 1:26 PM PST
- Where
- Imperial County Southwest forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.040, -115.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A mesonet station at Fish Creek Mountains measured a 59 mph gust.
- Dust Storm
- Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Mississippi, April 3, 2023$656,000 · EF1 · 11 events
- Wildfire in Arizona, April 3 to 4, 2023$500,000 · 1 event
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 3, 2023$50,000 · EF1 · 20 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, April 3, 2023$40,000 · EF1 · 11 events
- High Wind in New Mexico, April 3 to 4, 202370 kt wind · 28 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, April 3 to 5, 202323 events
- Heavy Snow in South Dakota, April 3 to 5, 202321 events
- High Wind and Winter Weather in California, April 3, 202382 kt wind · 11 events
- High Wind in Arizona, April 3, 202359 kt wind · 11 events
- High Wind in Colorado, April 3, 202369 kt wind · 8 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Wyoming, April 3 to 5, 20236 events
- High Wind in California, April 3, 202363 kt wind · 6 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1096504, 1096500, 1096502, 1096496, 1096498.