High Wind — Carquinez Strait and Delta, California

2021-01-26 to 2021-01-27 · Carquinez Strait and Delta, California

Event narrative

High winds caused a significant amount of trees and powerlines to fall across the area causing widespread power outages, closed roads, and dangerous driving conditions. It was noted that several homes were damaged in Solano County. Peak wind gusts, reported by a myriad of weather stations, for the zone ranged from 35 to 65 mph. Damage costs are estimated.

Wider weather episode

A cold trough from the Gulf of Alaska dropped into Northern California which brought a high impact winter storm to the region. Widespread precipitation, low snow levels of 500 to 2500 feet, and strong and damaging wind resulted. Impacts ranged from fallen trees, downed power and phone lines, trecherous driving conditions including chain controls and highway closures due to wind and/or snow, multiple accidents and spin outs due to snow, widespread power outages, damaged property due to wind, and injuries. Sacramento County was investigating several homeless related deaths due to cold weather; however, no reports have come back linking the two together.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 940850. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.