Flash Flood and Flooding in California, July 11, 1999

Name: Flash Flood and Flooding in California, July 11, 1999
Start: 1999-07-11T13:30
End: 1999-07-11T22:40
Location: California

July 11, 1999 · NWS HNX · 6 events in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $32,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

Widespread thunderstorm activity in the Kern County Deserts brought numerous instances of heavy rain, water run-off, and gusty wind. Heavy rainfall began around midday in the Tehachapi Mountains around the town of Tehachapi and in the Mojave Desert near Rosamond. One spotter in Tehachapi reported 5" of rain in the time period from 1100 until 1434 PST. Several lightning strikes occurred around Tehachapi at approximately 1330 PST. Urban and Small Stream Flooding subsequently occurred from the thunderstorms in Tehachapi and Rosamond. In addition, 1/2" hail was reported in Rosamond at 1405 PST along with estimates of 45 Knot wind and a rainfall rate of 1/2" in 15 minutes prior to 1415 PST. Trees and powerlines were reported downed from the thunderstorm. Heavy rainfall in the Kern County Mojave Desert also led to Flash Flooding over the Redrock-Randsburg Road just north of Cantil in the early evening hours...crossing the road at approximately 1650 PST. Late in the afternoon, high wind from the thunderstorm lasted for about 5 minutes and downed powerpoles and lines north of Inyokern.

The radar

The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flood, 1 lightning, 1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Kern

When: July 11, 1:30 PM PST to 1:38 PM PST
Where: Kern County, Tehachapi
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kern

When: July 11, 2:15 PM PST to 2:30 PM PST
Where: Kern County, Rosamond
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Kern

When: July 11, 2:34 PM PST to 6:30 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 3 mi W of Tehachapi
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Kern

When: July 11, 2:45 PM PST to 6:30 PM PST
Where: Kern County, Rosamond
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Kern

When: July 11, 3:35 PM PST to 3:40 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 5 mi N of Inyokern
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Kern

When: July 11, 4:50 PM PST to 10:40 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 1 mi N of Cantil
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in California, July 1999

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5701492, 5701491, 5701489, 5701490, 5701493, 5701488.