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Strong Wind — Riverside County Eastern Deserts, California
December 3, 2016 · NOAA Storm Events record
Event narrative (NOAA)
Strong and gusty north winds blew across the deserts of far southeast California during the early morning hours on December 3rd in association with a vigorous area of low pressure situated just south of Arizona. The winds, gusting in excess of 30 mph, resulted in pure cross-winds which affected vehicles traveling on Interstate 10 in eastern Riverside County. At 0504PST, the strong cross-wind resulted in a fatal rollover accident about 9 miles southwest of the Joshua Tree National Park Cottonwood Visitor Center. The accident was reported by the California Highway Patrol and it resulted in the death of the driver as well as injuries to an additional occupant.
Other notable strong wind events in California
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.