Orange County Coastal storm history

A swimmer visiting from San Francisco was pulled out to sea and drowned by a strong rip current. Lifeguards reported peak wave heights of 8 ft. The body was found on Seal Beach a day later.

At 1330PST on the 8th Laguna beach lifeguards reported an 18 year old male swept off the rocks and into a cave by 5 to 8 ft surf. Lifeguards were unable to locate the 18 year old, and he became a confirmed fatality on the 19th of February when his body was recovered near the sout…

Coastal Fire ignited on May 11th around 2:50 PM and was contained on May 17th at 7:54 AM. The fire consumed approximately 200 acres and burned up to 20 homes, each of which were valued between $2-5 million, total estimated around $60 million. Evacuation Orders and Warnings were i…

Newport Harbor Police reported that tidal-tsunami surges broke a bait barge in the Dana Point Harbor.

Mesonet at Seal Beach measures a wind gust of 38 mph.

Mesonet at Newport Pier measures a wind gust of 38 mph.

A public source reported dense fog with a visibility of 0.25 SM 2 miles west of Irvine.

A public source reported dense fog with a visibility of 0.25 SM 2 miles west of Irvine.

Huntington Beach reported surf heights of 8 to 12 feet on December 22, 2024.

KSNA John Wayne airport reported dense fog after 3 am December 19. The fog resulted in 14 diversions of aircraft. Dense fog was also reported 8 pm December 19 to 8 am December 20th from Los Alamitos to John Wayne airport.

Dense fog as low as 0.13 mile was reported at John Wayne airport KSNA from 630 am to 800 am PDT.

Dense fog was reported by Huntington Beach lifeguards as early as 5 pm October 5. Dense fog occurred through the morning of October 6.

Newport Beach lifeguards reported dense fog 1/4 SM visibility or less on the beach.

Huntington Beach lifeguards reported 1/8 SM visibility from dense fog, shallow marine layer.

Strong Santa Ana winds impacted coastal portions of Orange County on March 13th and 14th. Peak wind gusts were generally in the 20-40 mph range. Some notable higher gusts include 59 mph at Huntington Beach.

Huntington Beach Lifeguards reported maximum surf heights of up to 12 feet.

Low-lying beach parking lots closed in Seal Beach due to coastal flooding.

Huntington Beach Lifeguards reported 10 to 12 foot surf with occasional very high sets of 15 to 18 feet.

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.

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.

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

High temperatures across coastal portions of Orange County on October 4th through the 8th were notably hotter than seasonal normal. Highs were routinely in the middle to upper 80s, with some localized hotter locations. The hottest day was October 5th when John Wayne International…

Tropical Storm Hilary produced widespread tropical storm-force winds across Southern California from early morning on August 20 through the early overnight hours into August 21. The following are the top wind gusts reported across the Orange County coastal areas: Laguna Beach 4 (…

Local broadcast media observed and reported coastal flooding near Seal Beach Pier up to 18 inches deep from high tide and high surf. At least one car was swamped. No confirmed damage to homes or businesses.

Strong winds broke tree limbs about 1 inch in diameter as well as blew some roof shingles off of a house in Laguna Beach.

A mix of snow and snow pellets was observed in San Juan Capistra on March 1st.

Anomalously strong winds impacted the Orange County coastline from the late evening hours on February 21 through the early morning on February 22.The following are the strongest wind reports from the coast: Mesonet station SE024 Laguna Beach reported a peak wind gust of 65 mph. S…

Department of Highways reports a downed tree blocking the northbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway at Doheny Park Blvd. Nearby Capistrano mesonet station reported winds gusting to 37 mph.

High surf was reported at Orange County Beaches, with tide overflowing onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Elevated to high surf of 5 to 9 feet was reported by early afternoon on January 5, with sets of 8 to 12 feet reported on the afternoon on January 6. Surf slowly diminished throu…

Seal Beach had surges come across the beach and into parking lots and Boardwalk 2100. High tide was around 6.6 FT on September 8. Berm was hastily erected, with pumps in place and sandbags ready for residents.

The ASOS at John Wayne International Airport observed daily highs reaching at least the lower to middle 90s through much of early September, with several days ranging from 97 to 106 degrees. The highest daily maximum temperature of 106 degrees occurred on the afternoon of Sunday …

Wala Fire burned 75 acres south of Highway 76 in Oceanside. Forward rate of spread stopped around 4 pm on June 12. Some damage to outhouses and fences. Residents on the 300 block of Rimhurst Court, Wala Drive, the 300 block of Shadowtree were asked to evacuate. Oceanside Police r…

Trained spotter reports dense fog with visibility of 1/4 mile or less in Huntington Beach at 5:45 AM.

Maximum surf of 8 feet reported by Huntington Beach lifeguards.

High temperatures topped out in the upper 80s to lower 90s across much of the Orange County Coast. John Wayne International recorded a high of 85 degrees on March 23rd.

The Emerald Fire burned 154 acres near Laguna Beach and Crystal Cove State Park during a Southern California Santa Ana wind event. Evacuation orders were in place near burn areas. No burned structures or injuries reported.

Warm temperatures occurred across the region with widespread highs in the mid 80s to near 90 degrees. John Wayne Airport ASOS hit 91 degrees.

A Tsunami Advisory was issued at 5:03 AM for the Orange County Coast. Orange County did Wireless Emergency Alerts and activated sirens. The first tsunami wave arrived around 8 AM. Damage was reported across the coast, including a buoy reported to be broken off and drifting away o…

Mesonet station Weatherflow XHTG Huntington Beach pier reports 59 MPH wind gust along line of heavy rainfall.

Social media report of a tree down on a car in Huntington Beach. Time of damage unknown. Wind gusts at Huntington Beach Pier were between 35-50 mph overnight.

Newport Beach broke the high temperature record for November 21, reaching a high of 85 degrees, breaking the previous record of 84 degrees set in 1998.

Oceanside Airport reported one-quarter mile visibility in dense fog.

Beaches report visibility near one quarter mile at times, including San Clemente, Laguna Beach, and Newport Beach.

Lifeguard dispatch at San Clemente pier reported visibility of zero on the morning of the 1st.

Hot temperatures occurred with areas reaching into the low to mid 90s. John Wayne Airport reached 91 degrees on June 15th.

High temperatures occurred in the upper 80s to low 90s. John Wayne airport reached 90 degrees.

John Wayne Airport ASOS reports 1/4 mile visibility, less at times.

Lifeguards and trained spotters report dense fog, some near 0 miles at times.

Portions of the Orange County coast saw periods of dense fog. John Wayne Airport ASOS reports dense fog with visibility as low as 1/8th of a mile.

Lifeguards at Huntington Beach report high surf of 8 feet at 4 PM.