California, 1999

Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in California, July 12, 1999

July 12, 1999 · NWS HNX · 4 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm moved southwestward across the far Southern San Joaquin Valley during the early to mid-afternoon hours of July 12th. Numerous reports of downed powerlines due to gusty wind were received in the vicinity of Arvin and Lamont shortly after 1300 PST along with an unofficial report of a funnel cloud.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$150,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

A severe thunderstorm moved southwestward across the far Southern San Joaquin Valley during the early to mid-afternoon hours of July 12th. Numerous reports of downed powerlines due to gusty wind were received in the vicinity of Arvin and Lamont shortly after 1300 PST along with an unofficial report of a funnel cloud. At the latter stages of the storm passage lightning caused a structural fire and the accompanying gusty wind overturned a tractor-trailer rig on Interstate Highway #5 around 1320 PST. Visibility reportedly dropped to only 1/2 mile in heavy rain along with 1/4" hail by 1405 PST. The thunderstorm activity also led to a lightning strike that touched off a fire in a packing shed destroying a crop of peppers and equipment.

The radar

The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:22 UTC.

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Event by event

2 funnel cloud, 1 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Kern

When
July 12, 12:48 PM PST
Where
Kern County, 5 mi S of Edison
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Kern

When
July 12, 1:06 PM PST
Where
Kern County, Mettler
Property damage
$110,000
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Kern

When
July 12, 1:20 PM PST to 1:40 PM PST
Where
Kern County, Arvin to 4 mi S of Mettler
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
35.200, -118.900

Funnel Cloud, Kern

When
July 12, 2:05 PM PST
Where
Kern County, 5 mi S of Mettler
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5701591, 5701593, 5701590, 5701592.