Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest storm history
Storm events recorded in Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, California between 1950 and 2025.
54
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
0
Floods
1
Deaths
$13K
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
A 35 year-old male wildlife biologist of Big Sur was killed by a falling tree during high winds. The tree toppled over at 1450PST Wednesday, November 30, 2011 near North Coast Road at mile marker 16.
High Wind High Wind
The PG&E station at Old Coast Tower reported a wind gust of 91 mph.
High Wind High Wind
The PG&E station at Old Coast Tower reported a gust of 60 mph.
High Wind High Wind
The PG&E station on Laureles Grade Road South reported a gust of 63 mph.
High Wind High Wind
The Rana Creek Tower station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 80 mph.
High Wind High Wind
The Funt Ranch weather station operated by PGE reported a wind gust of 61 mph.
High Wind High Wind
The Highlands Peak weather station operated by the Desert Research Institute reported a wind gust of 75 mph.
High Wind High Wind
The Long Ridge station operated by PGE reported a wind gust of 68 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Trees were down on the roadway on Carmel Valley Road at the eastern Cachagua Road intersection. Wind was suspected to be a factor, with the weight of the snow also a potential factor.
Heat Heat
Arroyo Seco RAWS reported a max temperature of 111 deg. Various other unofficial sites in the surrounding mountains reported temperatures between 101 and 108 deg.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Fort Hunter Liggett RAWS station reported a high temperature of 114 degrees and remained in the 80s and 90s well into the night.
Wildfire Wildfire
Record dry fuels along with building high pressure and a hot airmass allowed for the development of the Willow Fire in the Ventana Wilderness in Monterey County. The fire was fully contained on July 11th and burned over 2800 acres https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7549/.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Old Coast Tower measured gusts between 50 and 60 mph with a peak gust of 65 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) at Mt. Devin Road measured gusts between 45 and 60 mph with a peak gust of 62 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Old Coast Tower measured sustained winds of 43 mph and gusts to 71 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Old Coast Tower measured gusts between 45 and 55 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet (PG&E) station on Laureles Grade measured gusts between 40 and 45 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) at Old Coast Tower reported gusts of 40 mph.
Wildfire Wildfire
The River Fire continued to burn through early September. A total of 48,088 acres burned with 30 structures destroyed, 13 damaged, and 4 injuries https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/river-fire/.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Carmel Fire that was sparked in August continued to burn into early September. A total of 6,905 acres were burned with 7 structures damaged and 73 destroyed https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/carmel-fire/.
Wildfire Wildfire
A vegetation fire (Carmel Fire) broke out the afternoon of the 18th in Sky Ranch in Carmel Valley as a spot off the River Fire https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/carmel-fire/. Multiple evacuations were ordered in the surrounding area with the fire ultimately destroying 7…
Lightning sparked the River Fire in Monterey County on the afternoon of the 16th https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/river-fire/. The fire burned over 48,000 acres destroyed 30 structures and damaged 13. Several evacuation orders were issued throughout the month and four …
Wildfire Wildfire
The Mineral Fire sparked in Fresno County on July 13th and slowly spread westward towards Monterey County. Areas were evacuated for several days https://www.ksbw.com/article/mineral-fire-prompts-evacuations-in-southeast-monterey-county/33341821.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Hunter Fire broke out near Lockwood in Monterey County. Multiple evacuations were issued https://kion546.com/news/2020/06/21/fire-burning-south-of-lockwood/.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Ridge Fire broke out in Monterey County burning dry grass, shrub, and oak https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6784/.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Plaskett Fire began in early June and burned for two weeks https://www.fireweatheravalanche.org/wildfire/incident/116481/california/plaskett-fire.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Mesonet at Hastings reported temperatures at or just below 28 degrees.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Fort Hunter Liggett RAWS station reported temperatures at or below 28 degrees.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Monroe Canyon Road reported temperatures below 28 degrees.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Argyle Road measured temperatures between 18 and 28 degrees.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Old Coast Tower measured gusts of 45 to 60 mph with a peak gust of 69 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Old Coast Tower measured gusts between 45 and 55 mph with a peak gust of 61 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Old Coast Tower recorded sustained winds between 30 to 40 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph during this entire time frame with a peak gust of 72 mph at 09:50 AM PST on the 1st.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station (PGE) 16.9 miles NW of Lake Nacimiento.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
One foot of snow estimated by trail runner/weather spotter near Junipero Serra Peak.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Estimate of 8 inches of snow on Cone Peak from trail runner/weather spotter.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Hastings RAWS measured wind gusts of 41 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Hastings RAWS station reported gusts 45 mph.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Fort Hunter Liggett RAWS recorded temperatures of 27 to 28 degrees.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Mesonet at Hastings Reserve recorded temperature of 28 degrees.
Wildfire Wildfire
Various lightning strikes sparked 15 fires in Monterey County that were contained on the same day http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/13/crews-contain-15-fires-started-by-lightning-in-monterey-county/. Timing has been estimated.
High Wind High Wind
Tree and wires down over HWY 1 at mm47.
High Wind High Wind
High Wind High Wind
Pacific Vista RAWS at 1969 feet.
High Wind High Wind
A measured gust of 67 MPH at Highlands Peak.
High Wind High Wind
A gust of 71 MPH was measured at the Highlands Peak Mesonet site, elevation 2490 feet.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Mission Wildfire broke out on Fort Hunter Liggett on August 22 and quickly grew to consume 4500 acres. One private home was threatened but not destroyed. The fire was contained on August 26.
Wildfire Wildfire
A large fire in the Stony Valley section of Ft. Hunter Liggett burned about 600 acres before being contained by base fire personnel. The blaze resulted in intermittent closures of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
A wind gust of 56 MPH was measured at Highland Peak RAWS at elevation 2490 feet. Numerous trees down and some power outages occurred due to the wind gusts.
High Wind High Wind
The Highland Peak RAWS, located at 2,490 feet, reported a peak wind gusts of 75 mph at 0020 PST.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |