BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — From record-setting Bakersfield rains to a tornado in the high desert the weather this week was anything but typical for October across southcentral California.
A storm system, propelled by a powerful North Pacific jet stream with high altitude winds nearing 200 mph, was blown into position to deliver several days of impactful weather to the region. Severe thunderstorms and numerous tornado warnings rocked Arizona, where a tornado watch was issued for the first time in 16 years on Wednesday, only to be repeated with another tornado watch the very next day!
Meanwhile, rain gauges filled up quickly across the South Valley as rain showers and thunderstorms rumbled through Kern County numerous times between Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Daily precipitation records were blown out of the water as well. Bakersfield picked up 0.47″ on Thursday and Merced recorded 1.40″.
In the high desert community of Victorville, midday thunderstorms spawned an apparent landspout tornado, that was captured on an incredible video in the middle of a neighborhood. That video, along with a post-storm analysis, is available to watch right here:…