San Clemente experienced strong straight-line winds on Wednesday evening, causing significant damage at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course and in nearby residential areas. While initial concerns suggested a tornado, a San Diego-based National Weather Service spokesperson confirmed Thursday evening that no tornado occurred. The wind event adds another layer to the challenges San Clemente has faced recently, including a destructive wildfire and intensified coastal erosion.
The National Weather Service issued a report Thursday afternoon based on a storm survey, which concluded that the damage was likely caused by "straight-line winds." The report noted that all snapped tree limbs and an uprooted tree were pushed to the northeast, consistent with the storm’s motion. Radar data from the service suggested wind gusts might have exceeded 50 miles per hour. A special alert issued just before 6 p.m. Wednesday by the weather service warned of a strong thunderstorm tracking south of San Clemente that could bring wind gusts up to 55 mph, advising people to seek shelter indoors.
The gusts whipped through the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course on Wednesday evening, toppling or snapping off sections of trees and leaving widespread debris across the typically manicured park, according to videos and photos reviewed. It does not appear anyone was injured during the incident. Golfers at the course reported heavy rain followed by a possible funnel around the time of the special alert, observing a row of strewn branches, downed trees, and one completely uprooted trunk, as noted in social media posts and local news reports.
An Instagram post from one golfer, appearing to be former San Clemente Mayor Tim Brown, showed some of the damage. He said it was raining too hard to capture what he called a cyclone, but described a “wind gust, it was a funnel” that “just tore through this whole section right here.” Brown added that it “just ripped on a straight line.” Jon Malnekoff, 86, whose home borders the golf course, reported that a plexiglass windowpane facing the fairway was completely blown inward during the burst of wind. Malnekoff stated, “It flew across my living room,” and noted that the incident “scared the living you-know-what.” While his floor sustained only minor scratches, Malnekoff reported his entire neighborhood was littered with blown trash cans and stray tree limbs, in addition to the severe damage on the golf course.
The storm on Wednesday was part of a series of strong storms that affected Southern California this week, leading to localized flooding, heavy rains, and high winds, including an instance that required a swift-water rescue in Los Angeles. The National Weather Service maintained a flood advisory for much of the area through Thursday afternoon and intermittently issued several other urgent alerts for strong thunderstorms.
This wind event comes as San Clemente was already dealing with three local emergencies. Just last week, the Norte fire quickly burned towards hillside neighborhoods, destroying six homes in the inland hillsides. Officials are hopeful this week’s heavy rains have helped ease wildfire concerns, but such storms also raise the risk of debris flows or mudslides in burn scars, as well as general flooding.
Furthermore, San Clemente has contended with coastal erosion for years, which continues to threaten a crucial rail line. A recent surge in strong swells, fueled by a strengthening “super” El Niño in September and again this month, has intensified these issues. This has led to the renewed closure of the railway, reshaped significant portions of the city’s beaches, and caused damage to its iconic pier.
