A shortwave trough dropping through the Great Basin on June 3 produced a period of increased onshore pressure gradients across our area between the late morning of June 3 and the morning of June 4. This resulted in a period a strong wind gusts across the Kern County Mountains and the Mojave Desert Slopes.
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 shortwave trough dropping through the Great Basin on June 3 produced a period of increased onshore pressure gradients across our area between the late morning of June 3 and the morning of June 4. This resulted in a period a strong wind gusts across the Kern County Mountains and the Mojave Desert Slopes. Several stations measured gusts exceeding 45 mph and a few stations reported 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 3, 1:10 PM PST, 6 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 210 PM PDT Mon Jun 3 2024 && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Gusty west winds will continue across the Mojave Desert Slopes. Winds will be stronger and more widespread across the Mojave Slopes this afternoon through tomorrow morning. 2.The Excessive Heat Warning has been extended through 8 PM Friday, due to continued daytime major(red) daytime HeatRisk on Friday. 3. The Heat Risk will be major(red) from Wednesday through Friday afternoon, which will affect anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts are likely in some health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure. 4. Temperatures are forecast to lower slightly on Saturday with more cooling into next week. Temperatures are forecast to still be a few degrees above normal by next Monday. 5. The anticipated heat for later this week could lead to increased snowmelt over the Sierra Nevada, resulting in colder and higher flows along rivers and waterways. && .DISCUSSION... Zonal flow will be continuing across Central California, which will lead to continued gusty winds on the Mojave Slopes this evening and into the early morning tomorrow. A Wind Advisory has been issued for this time and sustained wind speeds of 25 to 35 mph are expected with gusts up to 55 mph. These winds are expected to dial down into sunrise on Tuesday. As we move into Tuesday, a ridge will begin building of the coast of California, which will start a substantial warming trend later in the week. As the ridge builds into the state, temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley and the Kern County Desert will rise into the triple digits, with the hottest day being Thursday. Here is a table showing the probabilities for temperatures of 105 degrees or higher for select locations in these areas from Wednesday through Friday. Wed Thurs Fri Fresno: 66% 86% 56% Bakersfield: 41% 71% 36% Hanford: 41% 71% 41% Visalia: 51% 81% 46% Merced: 36% 71% 36% Madera: 36% 71% 36% Porterville: 36% 66% 36% Reedley: 31% 61% 36% Edwards AFB: 91% 81% 41% China Lake: 96% 100% 86% For this reason, the Excessive Heat Warning that was originally just for Wednesday and Thursday has now been extended Friday evening. The Heat Risk will be in major(red) during this time, which will affect anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts are likely in some health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure. It is recommended reduce time in the sun, stay in air conditioned building and drink plenty of water. These hot temperatures may also lead to faster melting of the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which would lead to colder water and faster flows in the rivers and waterways during this time. The ridge's strength will begin to wane as it is pushed east by an incoming trough from the Pacific. This will lead to a lowering in overall temperatures for Saturday through Monday, but daytime highs and nighttime lows will still be above normal for the time of year. Long range ensemble models are showing a ridge building back in again by next Wednesday and Thursday, leading to another bout of very warm weather. && AVIATION... VFR conditions will prevail across the Central CA interior for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... ISSUED: 06/02/2024 15:05 EXPIRES: 06/03/2024 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 5 AM PDT Tuesday for CAZ338. Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM Wednesday to 8 PM PDT Friday for CAZ300>317-319-321-332-337>339. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather........EW DSS/PIO.............................DCH weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
The Mojave Airport AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The Southern California Edison Station at Little Oak Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The Southern California Edison Station at Cottonwood Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, June 2024
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: 1170407, 1170406, 1170409, 1170408.