High Wind — Lake Isabella, California

2021-03-15 · Lake Isabella, California

Event narrative

The Bear Peak RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 76 mph.

Wider weather episode

A Pacific low pressure system moved into northwest California during the morning of March 15 and dropped southeast into central California during the afternoon spreading widespread precipitation over the area. Much of the San Joaquin Valley picked up another quarter to half inch of rainfall while the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills received a half inch to an inch of liquid precipitation north of Kings Canyon and three to six tenths of an inch south of Kings Canyon. The snow level was close to 4000 feet and areas aboved 4000 feet picked up 5 to 10 inches of snow north of Kingsd Canyon and 3 to 6 inches of snow south of Kings Canyon. Between a tenth to a quarter inch of liquid precipitation fell in the Kern County Mountains with up to an inch of new snowfall being measured at pass levels. Black ice once again resulted in brief closures of the Tejon and Tehachapi passes. The Kern County Deserts generally received a tenth of an inch or less of rainfall, but strong downslope winds during the evening March 15 impacted Kern County as there were several reports of gusts exceeding 60 mph and a few low impact indicator sites measured gusts in excess of 75 mph. There were also some reports of wind damage in the Bakersfield area as there were several stations which picked up gusts between 35 and 45 mph. The low moved east of the area during the morning of March 16 resulting in decreased winds and precipitation tapering off.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 938222. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.