Public Safety · Kern County
Flood Watch for Kern County Area: Wed. 8 a.m.–Thu. 8 p.m.
The National Weather Service office in Hanford, CA issued a flood watch at 1:16 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, valid from Wednesday at 8 a.m. through Thursday at 8 p.m. The watch covers the West Side Mountains south of Highway 198, Bakersfield, South End San Joaquin Valley, Kern River Valley, Piute Walker Basin, Tehachapi, Grapevine, Frazier Mountain Communities, Indian Wells Valley, Mojave Desert Slopes and Mojave Desert, as well as Kern and Buena Vista counties. The NWS warns of flash flooding from excessive rainfall with storms training over the same area, noting risks to rivers, creeks, low-lying areas, poor drainage zones, and urban areas. Residents in flood-prone or low-lying camping areas are urged to move to higher ground, avoid driving through floodwaters, and monitor later forecasts for potential Flash Flood Warnings.