Tropical Storm — Orange County Inland, California

2023-08-20 to 2023-08-21 · Orange County Inland, California

Event narrative

Tropical Storm Hilary produced widespread tropical storm-force winds across Southern California from early morning on August 20 through the early morning hours on August 21. The following are the top wind gusts reported across Orange County Inland areas:

San Clemente Ridge (SDGE): 57 MPH (6:20 PM 08/20)

San Clemente: 53 MPH (5:55 PM 08/20)

Chino Hills: 52 MPH (6:57 PM 08/20)

Baker Canyon (SCE097): 48 MPH (12:00 AM 08/21)

Chino Hills: 47 MPH (12:08 AM 08/21)

Upper Bell: 47 MPH (6:26 PM 08/20)

Limestone Cyn (SCE1114): 43 MPH (6:50 PM 08/20)

Villa Park Dam (SCE128): 43 MPH (7:20 PM 08/20)

Gypsum Canyon (SCE127): 41 MPH (12:00 AM 08/21).

Trees and large tree branches fell along the Santa Ana river, Riverview Golf Course, and in La Habra. Reports of winds removing shingles from houses in La Habra. 190 customers lost power during the event.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall across northern Baja California on August 20, and moved through Southern California that afternoon and evening. Torrential rainfall occurred across mountain and desert communities, resulting in catastrophic flash flooding and debris flows, damaged railways and bridges, and the closing of major interstates including I-8 in San Diego County and I-10 in Riverside County. Widespread tropical-storm force winds were recorded across much of Southern California.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1129872. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.