High Wind — Kern County Mountains, California

1998-02-02 to 1998-02-03 · Kern County Mountains, California

Wider weather episode

High gradient wind caused widespread damage throughout the Southern San Joaquin Valley from the late hours of 2/2/98 until mid-day on 2/3/98. A tree was reported uprooted at 2140 PST in Bakersfield by high wind...with numerous other reports of trees and powerlines down by 2225 PST...and roof damage to a trailer roof in Southeast Bakersfield at 2230 PST on Monday, 2/2/98. Roof damage was reported in Wasco and more reports of trees downed in Bakersfield at 0020 PST on 2/3/98; wind at Meadows Field was reported at 42Kts from the southeast with gusts to 50Kts at 0100 PST. Over 15,000 electric utility customers lost their power in the Shafter, Bakersfield, Lamont areas of Kern County by 1530 PST on 2/3/98. In KIngs County just outside of Lemoore a woman was injured when a tree fell on her at 0705 PST. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed within this county. Wind speed was measured at 48 Kts at the Hanford Airport at 0830 PST and shingles peeled off the roof of the NWS Office at 0810 PST. Tulare County also experienced numerous trees downed, including the Metropolitan Visalia area with trees downed at 0658 PST. In the Pixley-Earlimart area many agricultural plantings of trees were damaged or felled. Average wind speeds in the Kern County Mountains were 30-40Kts with one peak at 53Kts at 1145 PST on 2/2/98 at the Mountain Valley Airport. A Glennville spotter reported steady wind between 30-40Kts at 0710 on 2/3/98.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5638960. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.