This was on July 18th 2015, due to Hurricane Deloris which pushed tropical moisture into the area from the south.
Thunderstorms developed across the area, and Red Rock Canyon received about 0.57" that day. The result was water coming down the canyon, and washing out Garlock Road, and shutting down Highway 14 for a period of time.
In addition to the flash flooding, lightning was a frequent occurrence in the area. This image was captured by Weather Spotter Edward Czajka, looking SW from the Redrock Randsburg Rd & Highway 14.
This is a view of the radar data from this storm. The red dot is where the storm chaser was located, that captured the lightning picture.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA 434 PM PDT FRI SEP 11 2015 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD CA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... EAST CENTRAL KERN COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM PDT
AT 432 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES WEST OF RANDSBURG...OR 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RIDGECREST... MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF RED ROCK RANDSBURG ROAD AND STATE HIGHWAY 14 IN EAST CENTRAL KERN COUNTY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
State Route 58 was closed on Thursday, October 15, 2015 due to a major mudslide located between Cameron Road overcrossing and post mile 166 at 6:07 pm. It was discovered that approximately 1 ½ miles of roadway was covered in 5-6 feet of mud. A total of 78 passenger vehicles, 2 buses, 36 trucks, 1 RV & 1 travel trailer were stuck in the mud. Emergency personnel were able to safely remove all travelers and move them to emergency shelters.
There were not any injuries or fatalities due to this mudslide on State Route 58. Caltrans removed up to 7500 cubic yards of mud and debris equivalent to 23 full olympic-size swimming pools. The storm that hit the Tehachapi area was a 1000 year event that triggered a flash flood that flowed down the canyons onto State Route 58.
This is the Radar of the storms that hit the area on Oct 15th 2015. Notice how the storms build around Lancaster, and head NNW towards the Lake Isabella area, but collapsed before reaching the lake. This path led the storms over the Mojave area, and caused the flash flood conditions that closed Highway 58.
NWS Warnings:
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THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD CA HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...
* UNTIL 645 PM PDT
* AT 611 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 14 MILES NORTH OF ROSAMOND...OR 26 MILES NORTH OF LANCASTER...AND MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MOJAVE AND JAWBONE CANYON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...
DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO
AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY
RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER
COVERS THE ROAD.
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THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD CA HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING FOR...CENTRAL KERN COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...
* UNTIL 715 PM PDT
* AT 410 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN WHICH WILL CAUSE FLOODING.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BAKERSFIELD...WASCO...ARVIN...SHAFTER...ROSAMOND...TEHACHAPI...TAFT...MARICOPA...WEEDPATCH...GOLDEN HILLS...ROSEDALE...VALLEY ACRES...SOUTH TAFT...EDWARDS AFB...LAMONT...METTLER...MCKITTRICK...STALLION SPRINGS...DUSTIN ACRES AND FORD CITY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES IN URBAN AREAS. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.
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This is a map showing the area effected by the mudslide
We had some interesting storms hit the area on Aug 3rd 2012. Upper level winds were heading NE, but the lower level winds were SE, making for some nice wind shear. Monsoon moisture was in the area, and a lot of heat was generated in the valley (High of 106F). In the evening, Thunderstorms began to start near Death Valley, and they worked against the upper winds, and came SW into the valley. Frequent CQ (Cloud to Ground) lightning was observed, as seen in the pictures below. It was a spectacular show, but less than 1/4" of rain.
