CHASE ARCHIVES
2013
January 6, 2013 - Dana Point, CA
Strong cutoff low off SoCal coast. Funnels sighted off Huntington Beach, CA. I arrived only in time for the last of some weak rotation off Dana Point, CA.
February 8, 2013 - Laguna Beach, CA
Strong cutoff low off SoCal coast. Waterspouts sighted in the area before I arrived. I was able to view some rotation and a weak wall cloud with a small funnel west of Laguna Beach, CA.
March 8, 2013 - San Clemente, CA
Strong vertically stacked cutoff low off SoCal coast triggered morning waterspouts near San Clemente, CA. I arrived in time to see the last of some impressive rotation near San Onofre Beach.
April 8, 2013 - Newberry Springs, CA
Frontal boundary moved across Mojave Desert region of Southern California triggering weak convection. Decided to target an area of thunderstorms moving southeast from just north of Barstow to Newberry Springs. Moisture was suprisingly low level for the desert with some interesting looking bases in the cells.
May 7, 2013 - Inland Empire, CA
Late season cutoff low moved across Southern California. Weak convection in some areas, and general rains across the basin areas. I limited my chase to near home with only some mildly interesting structure noted.
October 9, 2013 - Corona/Ortega Hwy, CA
First fall system of the season brings thunderstorms and snow to the area. Deep cutoff low drops south through central California and parks itself over SoCal. Several bands of thunderstorms move through L.A., Orange, and San Diego Counties, and several areas of rotation were noted offshore OC and San Diego Counties. I initially targeted Corona and attempted a thunderstorm intercept north of Rancho Cucamonga, but changed my mind and decided to intercept a strong band of thunderstorms moving east across the coastal waters heading towards the OC coastline. Unfortunately this line was moving nearly 30 kts and as I was crossing the mtns along Ortega Hwy (SR 74) I intercepted the line at San Juan Hot Springs, and experienced a few embedded lightning strikes. Nothing spectacular but it was a fun winter-style chase. Lesson learned: position along coast EARLY if I really want to see offshore rotation and waterspouts.
November 21 2013 - Riverside, CA
Cutoff low along SoCal coast created a diffluent zone over the Riverside and San Bernardino area. Stationary line of thunderstorms formed from Riverside up through Devore. I initially targeted Riverside as a stationary cell blew up around 4pm. I approached from the south side along Cajalco Expressway and encountered amazing structure and several wall clouds beginning about 4:45pm.
November 22, 2013 - Oceanside, CA
Cutoff low remained stationary west of San Diego. As thunderstorms erupted in the coastal waters between San Diego and Catalina Island I positioned at Oceanside Harbor to observe possible waterspouts. Sighted 6 funnel clouds in total between 1pm and 3pm.
December 19, 2013 - Corona/Riverside, CA
Cutoff low along SoCal coast triggered thunderstorms across the Inland Empire region. Intercepted a strong cell over Corona and Riverside.