High Wind and Strong Wind in California, November 20 to 21, 2023

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in California, November 20 to 21, 2023
Start: 2023-11-20T07:30
End: 2023-11-21T12:00
Location: California

November 20 to 21, 2023 · NWS SGX · 18 events in 7 counties and zones

Strong high pressure centered over the Great Basin brought a strong round of Santa Ana winds to Southern California on November 20-21. Numerous damage reports were observed on the morning of November 20th, with very strong peak winds observed starting late in the evening on the 20th and running through the morning of the 21st.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 18 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: $19,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

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 SGX wrote it up.

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 Nov 20, 4:48 AM PST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 20, 4:48 AM PST, 2 hours 42 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
448 AM PST Mon Nov 20 2023

.SYNOPSIS...
Warmer with Santa Ana winds for today and Tuesday with weaker
winds on Wednesday. Cooler and breezy for Thanksgiving through
next weekend with mostly onshore flow.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...

.SHORT TERM (Today through Wednesday)...
Offshore flow is strengthening this morning with gusty north winds
strongest near the Cajon Pass and along the coastal slopes of the
Santa Ana Mountains with the strongest gusts exceeding 60 mph.
The strongest winds for those areas are expected through early
this afternoon with the strongest gusts to around 85 mph. The flow
will become more northeasterly today with the winds spreading
southward into the mountains and valleys in Riverside and San
Diego Counties but with winds not quite as strong. The stronger
winds for Riverside and San Diego Counties are expected for
tonight into Tuesday morning with the stronger gusts to around 65
mph. The winds will gradually subside from north to south on
Tuesday with weaker and more localized east to northeast winds
continuing into Wednesday.

High temperatures today will cool a few degrees for the deserts
into the mountains with the greatest warming for coastal areas
into the western valleys. The warming will continue on Tuesday
with high temperatures for some coastal areas 10 to locally 15
degrees above average, mostly in the lower to mid 80s for inland
coastal areas into the western valleys. Slightly cooler for the
coast and valleys on Wednesday.

&&

.LONG TERM (Thanksgiving through Sunday)...
A low pressure system from the northwest will move through
California and the Great Basin on Thursday with breezy and much
cooler conditions as the flow turns onshore. Cooler and breezy
conditions will continue through the weekend. By Sunday and
Monday, there is increasing model spread on the track of a low
pressure system moving southward through the western states. There
are small chances for light measurable precipitation each day
through the weekend beginning around Friday, mostly 10 percent or
less.

&&

.AVIATION...
201020Z...FEW-SCT AOA 25,000 FT MSL this morning. Otherwise, mostly
clear with unrestricted vis Mon afternoon/night.

N-NW winds peaking through 20z Mon over the San Bernardino Mtn
slopes, below the Cajon and Morongo Passes, and the Santa Ana Mtns
into inland Orange County. Surface gusts of 40-50 kt, peak gusts of
60-75 kt in wind-prone locations. Winds will slightly weaken after
20z Mon in these areas.

NE-E winds strengthening farther south into San Diego County Mtns
and eastern valleys after 20z Mon, with peak gusts over 50 kt in
wind-prone passes and canyons.

STG-SVR up/downdrafts and areas of LLWS over and S/SW of the
mountains through Mon night.

&&

.MARINE...
Northeast winds occurring across portions of the coastal waters
through Tuesday morning. Wind gusts reaching/exceeding 20 kt from
Oceanside northward later this morning, which may make navigation in
and out of Oceanside Harbor difficult for small vessels.

&&

.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...High Wind Warning until 10 AM PST Tuesday for Orange County
     Inland Areas-San Bernardino County Mountains-San Bernardino
     and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire-San Gorgonio
     Pass Near Banning-Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills.

     Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 2 PM PST Tuesday for
     Riverside County Mountains-San Diego County Mountains-San
     Diego County Valleys.

     Wind Advisory until 10 AM PST Tuesday for Orange County Coastal
     Areas.

PZ...None.

&&

PUBLIC...17
AVIATION/MARINE...EA

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 20, 6:59 AM PST, 31 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Diego CA
659 AM PST Mon Nov 20 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0627 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ESE Rancho Cucamonga  34.10N 117.52W
11/20/2023                   San Bernardino     CA   Dept of Highways

            Two semi-trucks were reported to be tipped
            over at 13900 Whittram Ave near Fontana.
            Wind gusts in the area at time of the
            incident were 35 to 45 mph.

&&

CO

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 strong wind, 7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 7:30 AM PST to 8:00 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reports of power lines down in the road at the intersection of Reche Canyon Rd and Placid Ln near Loma Linda. Wind gusts at and just before time of report were 35 to 40 mph.

Strong Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 7:30 AM PST to 8:00 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 46 kt (53 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Semi overturned at I-215 N and Devore Road, leading to a hard closure on I-215 northbound at 8 am. Glen Helen SCE gusts 53 mph Santa Ana wind.

Strong Wind, Orange County Coastal

When: November 20, 7:30 AM PST to 8:00 AM PST
Where: Orange County Coastal forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree in the road near SR 55 N and SR 22 W in Orange and North Tustin area. Winds around time of the event were 35 to 40 mph.

Strong Wind, Orange County Coastal

When: November 20, 8:00 AM PST to 9:30 AM PST
Where: Orange County Coastal forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An aircraft at John Wayne International Airport was taxiing onto the runway when a gust of wind flipped the aircraft over on RY2L. Peak wind 42 knots or 48 mph at 9:22 AM. Time of report was 8:48 am PST with NE wind gust 36 mph.

Strong Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 8:30 AM PST to 9:00 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

CalTrans report of power lines down across the roadway on Linden Ave in Rialto. Power pole was swaying. West Colton SCE gust 47 mph from Santa Ana wind.

Strong Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 9:15 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Big rig flipped and major traffic issues at SR 60 and I-15 connector on trans road near Onatrio. Hard closure by CHP. CWOP Eastvale gusted to 49 mph at 9:22 am.

Strong Wind, Orange County Coastal

When: November 20, 9:30 AM PST to 10:00 AM PST
Where: Orange County Coastal forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Construction sign blew over due to wind at I-405 South and Macarthur Blvd offramp. Wind gusts 45 mph at KSNA John Wayne airport.

Strong Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When: November 20, 10:00 AM PST to 10:30 AM PST
Where: Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree was blown down at 28272 Bond Way in Silverado. Santa Ana winds gusted to 52 mph at SCE Silverado.

High Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 10:17 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Powerlines blown down on lanes 14854 Iris Dr. near Fontana. Jurupa Hills SCE had gusts 55 to 67 mph.

Strong Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 12:45 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Compromised utility pole from high winds near Lurelane St and Fillmore Ave in Rialto. The Bench Union Pacific observation reported gusts 50 mph from Santa Ana winds.

Strong Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 1:20 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 44 kt (51 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two semis were reported to have flipped on their side near 14210 Whittram Ave in Fontana, blocking lanes. SCE Declezville had gusts 51 mph at noon and 1:20 PM.

High Wind, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When: November 20, 9:00 PM PST to November 21, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred across the Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills starting on the evening of November 20th and lasting through the morning and early afternoon hours on the 21st. The Fremont Canyon RAWS site recorded a peak wind gust of 66 mph, while the Santiago Peak observation site recorded a peak wind gust of 62 mph and the Pleasants Peak site recorded a gust of 56 mph.

High Wind, San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

When: November 20, 9:00 PM PST to November 21, 12:00 PM PST
Where: San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred across the San Gorgonio Pass starting on the evening of November 20th and lasting through the morning and early afternoon hours on the 21st. The SoCal-Edison mesonet site in Banning recorded a peak wind gust of 67 mph, while the Beaumont site recorded a peak gust of 57 mph.

High Wind, San Diego County Mountains

When: November 20, 9:00 PM PST to November 21, 12:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred across the San Diego County Mountains starting on the evening of November 20th and lasting through the morning and early afternoon hours on the 21st. The Sill Hill San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE) Mesonet site recorded a peak wind gust of 80 mph, while the Big Black Mountain site recorded a peak wind gust of 70 mph. Other high peak winds include 68 mph at the Boulder Creek SDGE site, 68 mph at Boucher Hill, and 66 mph at the Mount Laguna Observatory.

High Wind, San Diego County Valleys

When: November 20, 9:00 PM PST to November 21, 12:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred across portions of the San Diego County Valleys, mainly in the coastal mountain slopes and foothills, starting on the evening of November 20th and lasting through the morning and early afternoon hours on the 21st. The Hellhole Canyon San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE) Mesonet site recorded a peak wind gust of 70 mph, while the Hauser Mountain site recorded a peak wind gust of 69 mph. Other high peak wind gusts include 66 mph at the Otay Mountain RAWS site, 65 mph at the Alpine RAWS site, and 60 mph at the East Willows SDGE site.

High Wind, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When: November 20, 9:00 PM PST to November 21, 12:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred across portions of the Inland Empire starting on the evening of November 20th and lasting through the morning and early afternoon hours on the 21st. The Highland Springs mesonet site recorded a peak wind gust of 65 mph, while the Devil Canyon SoCal-Edison site recorded a peak wind gust of 64 mph. Other high peak wind gusts include 63 mph at the Devore SoCal-Edison site, 62 mph at Rialto, and 60 mph at Rancho Cucamonga.

High Wind, San Bernardino County Mountains

When: November 20, 9:00 PM PST to November 21, 12:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred across portions of the San Bernardino County Mountains starting on the evening of November 20th and lasting through the morning and early afternoon hours on the 21st. The Marshall Peak mesonet site recorded a peak wind gust of 69 mph, while the Arrowhead Springs SoCal-Edison site recorded a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

Strong Wind, San Diego County Valleys

When: November 21, 9:00 AM PST
Where: San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 27 kt (31 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large branch downed by wind near the intersection of Rice Canyon Rd and Clearwater Rd east of I-15. SDGE Rainbow Heights gusted 31 mph at 630 am.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in California, November 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1147018, 1147020, 1147021, 1147009, 1147022, 1147012, 1147023, 1147024, 1147015, 1147011, 1147010, 1147000, 1147001, 1147002, 1147004, 1147006, 1147007, 1147008.