California, 2023

Dust 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…

Where it happened

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.

  • 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
$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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PSR wrote it up.

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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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

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.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in California, April 2023

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1096504, 1096500, 1096502, 1096496, 1096498.