A powerful storm blew across the High Desert Friday afternoon, causing what some described as “sand hurricanes” and “mini sand cyclones,” which destroyed property and caused a multi-vehicle crash on the 40 Freeway.
A view from a hilltop in Apple Valley showed a nearly 3-mile sandstorm moving north to south across Hesperia, just west of the Mojave River. The storm also appeared to create multiple dust devils.
Several residents in Hesperia, Barstow and Apple Valley told the Daily Press the “sandstorm” toppled trees, knocked down mailboxes, battered vehicles and frightened people.
“I’ve been here since 1991, and I’ve never seen such a quick, unexpected and violent sandstorm,” said Hesperia resident Brenda Sewell “When it was finally over, there was sand and grit everywhere.”
‘Erratic strong gusty winds’
Meteorologist Ben Brissey reported Friday that an elevated cell was developing near Holcomb Valley and extending north into Apple Valley
“The primary threats will be gusty winds and lightning, though a brief downpour is possible as storms move off to the northwest,” he said.
The National Weather Service on Friday also reported the increase in tropical moisture on top of a warm dry air mass that will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday.
Portions of the storm could have lightning and erratic strong wind gusts along with brief heavy rain, the NWS reported.
‘Sand hurricane’
On Friday afternoon, a Daily Press reporter near Main Street and Seventh Avenue experienced a strong sandstorm, which limited visibility to about 30 feet as it carried debris into the air and caused a few sprinkles.
Sewell, who lives near Hesperia High School, told the Daily Press that the “sand hurricane” was “totally unexpected and insane.”
“It was like a scene from the ‘Wizard of Oz,’” Sewell said. “The wind started shaking our swamp cooler, sand started pounding the house and all the trees around us were getting battered.”
Sewell, who lives on a half-acre, said she could barely see her backyard bungalow because of the sandstorm.
Nita Paddack of Apple Valley said, “We live right across the street from the river bed. So much dirt. Our neighbors have a weather monitor that recorded wind gusts at 35 mph.”
“When the storm hit, my dogs freaked out and ran for cover,” said Hesperia resident Candice Smith. “I didn’t know what was happening until I looked outside and saw this massive cloud of sand blasting my house.”
Reggie Stanton of Hesperia said the storm tore the metal siding off one of his backyard sheds and destroyed part of a chicken coup.
Several residents traveling through Hesperia said at one point, they could not see 10-feet in front of their vehicle due to the sandstorm.
Videographer Jose Gonzalez spoke to one woman whose backyard metal shed was lifted off the ground by the wind and thrown over the fence into her neighbor’s yard.
Barstow gets hits
People in the Barstow area said they saw a “massive sandstorm,” hundreds of feet high, come through as it tore down trees, destroyed property, and knocked out power in Lenwood, Hinkley and parts of Barstow.
At about 5:42 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported “brown-out” conditions during a multi-vehicle crash on eastbound Interstate 40 near Newberry Springs. Authorities reported that six vehicles struck a single vehicle in the incident which may have involved up to 20 vehicles.
In a video posted to Facebook, resident Kaye Webster narrates as the storm knocks down one of four cottonwood trees and blows debris across her back patio.
At about 2 a.m. Saturday, Webster told the Daily Press that electricity had not returned to her property in north Barstow.
Riding as a passenger on Interstate 15, Sherri Ann Davis took video of what appeared to be miles of monsoon-like weather conditions, with rain and flying debris
“Unstable atmospheric conditions,” said the driver, with Davis responding to viewers, “Yup, what she said.”
Resident Ann Jackson said the storm was “pretty scary” as it woke her up. Her power also went out for a few minutes before returning.
The storm blew a cat bed into the middle of the yard and sent a chair and the neighbors’ trash cans flying, said Jackson, who thought, “Oh no, we are all going to die.”
The Las Vegas Review-Journal also reported a rare weather phenomenon blew through Las Vegas on Friday evening. A haboob, also known as a big dust cloud or storm, brought blowing dust and cut visibility at Harry Reid International Airport from the normal 10 miles to 4 miles within a few minutes.
Wildfire threat
The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch through Sunday as dry lightning and gusty winds are expected in the High Desert, San Bernardino County and Riverside County mountains, foothills and passes.
Erratic wind gusts are expected to reach 35 to 50 mph or stronger.
On Saturday and Sunday, high temperatures in places like Victorville, Apple Valley and Hesperia will range between 96 and 101 degrees. Barstow should see highs of about 105.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Storm batters High Desert, topples trees, destroys property,
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