Thunderstorm Wind in San Bernardino County, California

Thunderstorm Wind June 3, 2009 · San Bernardino County, California

55 mph

Estimated gust (48 kt)

Death

$20K

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

A wind gust from a thunderstorm snapped a pine tree along the 400 block of Catalina Road near Avalon Drive in Big Bear Lake. The tree fell on a passing vehicle, crushing the car and killing the driver.

The wider storm

Unstable air ahead of an upper-level low centered just off the coast of Northern California triggered bands of elevated convection which stretched from San Diego to the San Bernardino County deserts. Over 1500 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were recorded during the event, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. The lightning also started approximately 70 fires, most of which were small and did not result in any damage or injuries. The storms also produced gusty winds and hail, with one cell producing quarter-sized hail in the Del Mar area.

Began near Moonridge (34.2451, -116.8798).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 178592. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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