Power Outage in Fontana, CA

Downed powerlines, 10-15 approximately, reported in the area of Austin Road and West Aten Road in El Centro due to thunderstorm winds. Winds were estimated between 55-60 mph. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.

A powerline and possibly a power pole were blown down by thunderstorm winds in the area of SR-115 & Titsworth Road in Calipatria. Winds were estimated between 55-60 mph. No injuries were reported.

Power lines down along with approximately 20 power poles down or leaning over were reported along Evan Hewes Highway near Forrester Road. No injuries were reported. Timing was estimated using radar.

A power pole was reported down and blocking traffic near Rutherford Road and West Road. No injuries were reported. Timing was estimated using radar.

A powerful Pacific low pressure system interacted with deep moisture to produce widespread rain across the eastern portion of Imperial County during the evening hours on November 28th. Isolated thunderstorms were embedded within the rain bands, helping to increase rain totals. The heavy rain produced an episode of flash flooding over the far southeast portion of the county. According to the department of highways, at 1934PST flash flooding led to the closure of Ogilby road from Interstate 8 northward to state route 78. Due to the road closure, there were no reports of accidents resulting from the flash flooding.

A powerful Pacific low pressure system interacted with deep moisture to produce widespread rain across the eastern portion of Imperial County during the evening hours on November 28th. Isolated thunderstorms were embedded within the rain bands, helping to increase rain totals. The heavy rain produced an episode of flash flooding over the far southeast portion of the county. According to the department of highways, at 1934PST flash flooding led to the closure of Ogilby road from Interstate 8 northward to state route 78. Due to the road closure, there were no reports of accidents resulting from the flash flooding.

Isolated thunderstorms near El Centro generated strong and gusty outflow winds during the afternoon hours on October 3rd. The California highway patrol reported that power poles and live power lines were blown down along Bowker road near Interstate 8. The poles were blown down by the outflow winds which were estimated to be at least 60 knots.

Thunderstorms with damaging microburst winds moved through Imperial county during the afternoon hours on September 13th. According to the California Highway Patrol, 18 power poles were blown down along Highway 98 near Rood Road, east of Calexico. The strong winds also caused a semi-truck to roll over on Highway 98. Additionally, two semi trucks rolled over on Interstate 8 and State Route 7. The wind gusts were estimated to be at least 60 knots.

Power outage reported in Westmorland.

Strong winds took out power to parts of Imperial county as winds were estimated to be exceeding 60 mph near Westmorland. Near the Salton Sea, the Sheriffs office reported dense blowing dust.

A brief tornado touched down in Fontana on Elm Street and blew roof shingles off three homes, ripped the roof off a water well building, felled several trees, and brought down powerlines. The tornado was accompanied by pea and marble-sized hail.

Under deep-layer easterly wind flow, subtle disturbances in the upper-levels helped to instigate thunderstorm activity across portions of south-central and southwestern Arizona during the late afternoon and early evening hours, which then made its way across the Lower Colorado River Valley to affect the town of Winterhaven in extreme Southeast Imperial County. The town was hit with damaging winds in form of dozens of downed power poles, leading to several hundred customers losing power.

A similar pattern existed on the 31st compared to the previous day with an upper level low in the eastern Pacific near the west coast of the Baja Peninsula promoting diffluent flow across southeast California. Better moisture existed on this day compared to the previous day, leading to a more enhanced flash flooding event. The most intense rainfall occurred in northeast Imperial County along SR 78, where nearly 7 inches of rain was estimated to have fallen within a 5 hour period. An unbridged crossing along SR 78 at Milpitas Wash became flooded with swiftly flowing water due to the heavy rainfall. A vehicle attempting to cross through the flooded portion of the highway was swept off the roadway before overturning in the wash. Both of the occupants perished in the flash flood. Strong to severe thunderstorms across the Imperial Valley led to damaging wind gusts that resulted in numerous downed power poles. According to the Imperial Irrigation District, extensive damage sustained to the power infrastructure on both the 30th and 31st would cost the district more than $8 million.

An MCS developed in the afternoon in western Arizona and spread southwest through Riverside and Imperial counties during the evening and early overnight hours. In an otherwise week steering wind, the MCS was partially maintained by strong low level wind shear as it progressed downslope through a moisture-rich environment. The MCS produced widespread 40 plus mph wind gusts, locally higher, with multiple damaging wind reports. The strong winds also generated dense blowing dust. There were numerous reports of power outages across Imperial County and unconfirmed reports of trees falling on vehicles. Given the high moisture content, storms with the MCS and the slow-moving storms that developed well out ahead of the MCS produced very heavy rainfall, leading to areas of flash flooding. Radar estimated rainfall was upwards of 2 to 3 inches in 1 hour for many areas, with locally higher amounts.

A powerful Pacific low pressure system spread considerable amounts of deep moisture into much of Imperial County during the day on March 12th and given impressive amounts of lift and instability, this resulted in widespread showers mixed with isolated to scattered thunderstorms. The storms enhanced local rainfall totals, resulting in accumulations that quickly exceeded one inch in some places, resulting in episodes of flooding and flash flooding over the central portions of Imperial County. Flowing water cross over roads to the west and southwest of El Centro leading to road closures. Early evening flooding was observed to the northeast of Brawley, resulting in impacts to local traffic. Flash flood warnings were issued in response to the heavy rain but fortunately there were no injuries resulting from the flooding.

A powerful Pacific low pressure system interacted with deep moisture to produce widespread moderate to heavy rain across eastern portions of Imperial County on November 28th. Isolated thunderstorms were embedded within the rain bands and they increased rain totals. The widespread rain which mostly occurred during the evening hours led to an episode of flash flooding over the far southeastern portion of the county. At about 1934PST, heavy rain led to flash flooding along Ogilby Road, as reported by the California Highway Patrol. The flash flooding forced the closure of the road and as a result there were no reports of accidents due to the flash flooding.

A powerful Pacific low pressure system developing across the desert southwest interacted with significant amounts of moisture to produce widespread rain across portions on Imperial County starting in the afternoon hours on November 28th. Isolated thunderstorms embedded within areas of rain helped to increase rain totals and the heavy rain resulted in an episode of flash flooding on the western side of the Salton Sea. Local law enforcement reported that flash flooding caused the closure of highway 86 about 5 miles southeast of the town of Winona. The road closure occurred during the late afternoon. Instead of a flash flood warning, an areal flood advisory was issued for the area. There were no reports of any accidents due to the flooded roadway.

A long north to south oriented line of thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon hours on September 8th; it ran from the Baja spine northward through central Imperial County and into eastern Riverside County. The individual storms moved rather quickly to the north and most of the storms in the line were very strong, producing gusty damaging microburst winds along with intense rainfall which led to multiple episodes of flash flooding. Much of the damage and flooding occurred from the Imperial Valley south to the Mexican border. For example, just north of the Mexican border and east of Calexico, 23 power poles were downed on Carr Road. Further north, in the town of Calipatria, 23 power poles were downed on Young Road at about 1300PST. Flash flooding occurred in the vicinity of the town of Holtville; about 4 miles west of town a canal was breached resulting in the flooding of nearby homes. Multiple Flash Flood and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued during the afternoon.

Scattered monsoon thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening hours across portions of Imperial County on August 3rd and is typical with monsoon storms, they produced gusty and damaging outflow winds along with locally heavy rainfall. For example, during the late afternoon, thunderstorms moved across the western portion of the Imperial Valley, near the town of Seeley, and they generated gusty winds over 60 mph that downed as many as 40 power poles along Drew Road. The poles were downed to the south of Interstate 8. Later, during the evening hours, thunderstorms with intense rainfall led to flash flooding along highway 78, about 15 miles northeast of Glamis and across the far eastern portion of Imperial County. The flooding caused significant debris to wash across the highway presenting a serious hazard to motorists.

Strong thunderstorms associated with an upper level low off the southern California coast moved slowly north along the western Imperial county line during the early morning hours on October 15th. Some of the storms generated gusty and damaging winds which affected areas along the western side of the Salton Sea. Thunderstorm outflow winds estimated to be at least 60 mph in strength blew down over 10 power poles several miles to the northwest of the town of Salton City. No injuries were reported due to the strong winds.

A line of thunderstorms developed across south central Imperial county during the early afternoon hours on August 21st and they affected communities such as Imperial and El Centro. The stronger storms produced damaging microburst winds estimated to be in excess of 60 mph. The peak thunderstorm wind gusts were sufficient to blow down numerous power poles as well as overturn semi-trailer trucks on area highways such as Interstate 8. In addition to the strong winds, some storms produced large hail as well as locally heavy rainfall. The heavy rainfall led to episodes of both flash flooding and flooding which covered much of central and eastern Imperial county. Numerous roads were closed during the afternoon and evening hours due to the flooding. No injuries were reported due to the strong winds or flooding.

Isolated thunderstorms developed across portions of Imperial county during the afternoon hours on October 3rd. The storms generated strong and gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph which were sufficient to blow down a number of trees and power poles.

A very strong thunderstorm developed south of Imperial near the Mexican border during the afternoon on the 7th of July. Strong microburst winds and heavy rain impacted the community of Calexico, damaging homes, trees and power poles.