High Wind — Kern Cty Mtns, California

2019-01-11 · Kern Cty Mtns, California

Event narrative

Cummings Valley reported a peak wind gust of 58 mph.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system dropped southeast off the California coast on January 11. As the low was off the central California coast it helped mix out the atmosphere over the San Joaquin Valley and allowed for the fog and low clouds which had persisted since the previous day in some areas to dissipate. This system also produced strong offshore pressure gradients which resulted in strong downslope winds near the Grapevine area in the Kern County Mountains and in the south end of the San Joaquin Valley. Several stations measured wind gusts between 35 and 50 mph during the afternoon and evening of January 11 and a pair of ridge top sites reported gusts near 60 mph. The winds diminished by late evening as the low moved inland across southern California.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 793120. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.