Waterspout — San Mateo Pt To Mexican Bdr Out 30nm, E Pacific

2012-10-11 · near Point Loma, San Mateo Pt To Mexican Bdr Out 30nm, E Pacific

Event narrative

Numerous pilot reports received of waterspouts off the coast in the vicinity of North Island and Imperial Beach.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper-level low pressure system dug south along the west coast, moving inland directly over southern California. A vorticity maximum rotating around the low, along with the setup of a California Bight Coastal Convergence Zone (between drainage winds off the land and onshore flow from the low) created the perfect conditions for showers, thunderstorms and funnel clouds. The cold air instability and warm waters resulted in waterspouts over the coastal waters during the morning hours.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.6198, -117.2193)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 415338. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.