Record-breaking storm pounds county, leads to evacuations
| Monday, Dec 20 2010 11:56 AM
Last Updated Monday, Dec 20 2010 12:02 PM
A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service through Tuesday morning and evacuations were ordered Monday as a storm that brought record rainfall to Bakersfield over the weekend continues in the area.
Approximately 2,000 people in McFarland were evacuated in an area east of Highway 99, west of Wiley Street, south of Elmo Highway and north of Sherwood Avenue, according to a Kern County Fire Department news release.
Bakersfield has seen 3.84 inches of rain this December as of Monday morning, most of it coming Saturday and Sunday. The previous record for December rain was 2.98 in 1931.
Heavy rain, especially in the eastern portions of the county, was expected to end by Tuesday, said Jim Dudley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Hanford.
Dry weather is predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, Dudley said, with a small chance of precipitation in line for the upcoming weekend.
Sections of several roads in Bakersfield, as well as in other parts of Kern County, were closed due to flooding. A list of all road closures can be found in a related story.
At least 10 people and six dogs were evacuated in Weldon early Monday morning by the county fire department following reports of flooding near Kelso Valley Road and Kelso Creek Road, according to a news release.
The Kern River Valley Senior Center in Lake Isabella is being used by the American Red Cross as an evacuation center, the release said.
Evacuation centers in McFarland are located at 100 S. 2nd St. and at McFarland High School, 259 W. Sherwood Ave.
In Shafter, sand bags were made available Monday at the Shafter Police Department, 210 Central Valley Hwy., and at the Shafter City Corporation Yard, 101 W. Tulare Ave.
Bakersfield set a record for Dec. 18 rainfall with 1.37 inches. Sunday's total of 1.53 inches was a new high for any December day.
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