A large upper level trough moved into California on June 18 which brought much cooler temperatures to the area along with gusty westerly winds to the Kern County Mountains and Deserts between the evening of June 18 and the early morning of June 20. Several stations measured gusts exceeding 45 mph during this time frame and a few low impact indicator sites recorded gusts exceeding 60 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
A large upper level trough moved into California on June 18 which brought much cooler temperatures to the area along with gusty westerly winds to the Kern County Mountains and Deserts between the evening of June 18 and the early morning of June 20. Several stations measured gusts exceeding 45 mph during this time frame and a few low impact indicator sites recorded 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 Jun 18, 11:25 AM PST, 11 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1225 PM PDT Sun Jun 18 2023 .SYNOPSIS... High temperatures will cool significantly on Monday. Monday’s highs will be 10 to 15 degrees lower than those observed on Saturday. A Wind Advisory is out for the Kern County mountains and desert for this afternoon and Monday due to anticipated strong wind gusts. Otherwise, expect cooler than average to near seasonal temperatures for much of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Satellite loops show the upper-level trough approaching from the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, a zonal flow has set up over our forecast area. Thus, westerly winds are expected to pick up over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada and into the eastern Kern County desert zones. Based on high resolution guidance, forecast looks on track in terms of increasing winds in these areas for later this afternoon and into Monday, so the Wind Advisory. Gusts of 45 to 55 mph are expected to materialize in the desert areas, with the strongest gusts along the adjacent slopes near the passes and canyons. Some gusts could be locally stronger, especially along the Mojave Desert Slopes. As much as a 60 percent probability of gusts at or above 55 mph exists for locations this typical wind-prone area. The probabilities for highs in the lower 80's for Monday are about 65 to 85 percent for the Central Valley and will decrease for Tuesday, as probabilities for highs of 85 degrees or warmer do increase a bit. Overall, our forecast area will remain relatively cooler, as the ensemble and deterministic guidance support the idea that a trough pattern will remain over the West Coast. Also, we will get a reinforcement of cooler air later in the week, as another upper-level low pressure system moves onshore from the Eastern Pacific. It does not appear we will get really warm anytime soon and possibly not for the rest of June, based on the latest CPC outlooks. && .AVIATION... Expect strong west winds, including gusts of 40 to 50 kts, across the Sierra Crest and Kern County Desert at times until at least 00Z Tuesday. While MVFR conditions in blowing dusts will exist in areas of strong winds, VFR conditions will prevail elsewhere across Central California through at least the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... None. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high. 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 from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT Monday for CAZ337>339. && BSO weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 71 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, June 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: 1094735, 1094732, 1094734, 1094733.