The world record high temperature was recorded at El Azizia, Libya on September 13, 1922 when an official weather observation registered 136 degrees Fahrenheit. Not far behind is the highest reading in the US (and western hemisphere) of 134 degrees at Greenland Ranch- Death Valley, California on...more July 10, 1913. But who would have guessed that the third hottest temperature of all time was near Santa Barbara, California?

It is the beginning of a new month- March. However, for most of recorded history this would have been the beginning of a new year.

The hills are alive with greenery and foliage bursting out like it was spring. Of course, the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) is still nearly a month away.

Kern county and all of California have been on a “Spring Break” of sorts from the wet winter lately.  But the wet part of our year is still in its ascendancy.

Following a wet weekend in which many areas picked up substantial amounts of rainfall, Monday will be a short break in the action. But Tuesday should snap back to our wet weather ways.

February is here and that means its time to see whether Kern Clyde sees his shadow or not on Ground Fog Day.

Storm Ares was huge in California and much of the west. The series of windy and rainy systems gave us a positive bump on the water year.

Our well announced wet pattern is in full swing over the state with a plethora of watches and warnings.

We have come to the end of another year in the south valley so it begs a quick look at how we fared climatologically.

Without a doubt, the weather pattern has changed. This is the beginning of what I have long anticipated: the return of El Nino.

October ebbs and November comes marching in with shorter days and generally cooler temperatures. At least that is usually the way it works.

The October 13th Pacific storm that hammered California is awash in superlatives. Records fell by the wayside in most areas north and south of Kern County for a storm so early in the rainy season. But the strength of this powerful former super typhoon was precisely the reason many parts of Kern...more County received next to nothing. Indeed the rule of thumb is “The stronger the storm, the LESS rain we get in Bakersfield”.

Wonderful October weather has supplanted the seemingly endless heat of summer. Overnight lows in the 40s and 50s with highs in the 70s and 80s are welcomed relief from the triple digits of September.

Very hot weather has come to Kern County and all of southern California. Santa Ana winds are the extremely hot and dry winds that affect this area beginning about this time of the year.