ships. It does, however, indicate that stronger, more turbulent, wind events 
approach from the east to southeast direction, as noted in the lower portion of 
Figure 8. 
Santa Ana winds describe the high sustained winds that can occur when a 
strong high pressure system is located over the western United States, 
typically centered on Nevada and Utah. This occurs after a front has moved 
inland through northern California and Nevada followed by a Pacific high. 
Generally winds approach from the northeast, but they can be locally affected 
by topography. Santa Anas typically occur from November through January. 
Favored courses of Santa Ana winds are shown in Figure 9, a Weather 
Service sketch (Kurtz 1977). Santa Ana winds of 64 mph did significant 
damage to the harbors in 1933 (Marine Advisers, Inc. 1965). Figure 10 
shows winds with peak velocities of 24 mph that occurred on the breakwater 
when Santa Ana winds were 80 mph inland. These winds approached the 
harbors from the northeast, or 45 deg. 
Winds due to tropical storms or hurricanes have reached the harbors only a 
few times since weather records have been kept. Typically these form near 
the equator south of the Gulf of California in July, August, and September, 
moving west to northwest. Usually high pressure centers north of the 
hurricane keep it moving away from the coast of Mexico and Southern 
California. In 1921, 1929, and 1939 (in September in each case) hurricanes 
advanced to the Southern California coast, with only the 1939 hurricane 
reaching San Pedro Bay, causing significant damage in the vicinity of the 
harbors. 
Chapter 2 Winds Over the Harbors 
