Thunderstorm Wind, Kern
- When
- August 31, 2:30 PM PST to 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Kern County, Lake Isabella to 3 mi E of Lake Isabella
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 35.620, -118.400
Wildfire and Damaging Wind in California, August 31, 1998
Thunderstorm wind at 45 knots from the east swept into the Paradise Cove area along the south shore of Lake Isabella. Downed powerlines sparked a grass fire (Yankee Fire) that subsequently burned 1,100 acres at a cost to suppress of $1M.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS HNX wrote it up.
Thunderstorm wind at 45 knots from the east swept into the Paradise Cove area along the south shore of Lake Isabella. Downed powerlines sparked a grass fire (Yankee Fire) that subsequently burned 1,100 acres at a cost to suppress of $1M. There was one injury due to smoke inhalation. Moored boats and jet skies were endangered by the high wind at docks along the south shore. Flash Flood Warning erroneosly issued in conjunction with Severe Thunderstorm Warning ... no verification on the FFW. Blowing dust was observed by several trained spotters at points east of the lake and along the south side of the lake. The Yankee Fire was contained on 9/2/98.
The radar
The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:31 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Wildfire, Kern
- When
- August 31, 2:30 PM PST to 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Kern County, 3 mi ENE of Lake Isabella
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, August 31, 1998
- Lightning Strike in Louisiana, August 31, 1998
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 31, 1998
- Damaging Wind in North Carolina, August 31, 1998
- Damaging Winds in Mississippi, August 31, 1998
- Drought in New Jersey, August 31, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, August 31, 1998
- Drought in Pennsylvania, August 31, 1998
- Hail in Minnesota, August 31, 1998
- Drought in Maryland, August 31, 1998
- Damaging Winds in Florida, August 31, 1998
- Drought in Delaware, August 31, 1998
More
Every storm in California in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in California, August 1998
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5655667, 5655668.