A dry southwest flow aloft set up over the area on the 6th along the leading edge of a upper level trough over the Pacific Northwest and northern California, bringing dry weather through the 8th. However, an upper level low moved from the Great Basin into central California on the 9th. This atypical movement of the low occurred because it was cut off from the prevailing westerly winds aloft. These systems usually move into the area from the Pacific Ocean. This low changed the flow aloft over the region to southeasterly, drawing moisture into central California from Arizona and northwestern Mexico. This warm, unstable airmass brought showers and thunderstorms to much of interior central California from the 9th through the 14th. Isolated thunderstorms continued over the Sierra Nevada crest on the 15th, as residual moisture remained over the area while the southeasterly flow transitioned to a more southwesterly direction.
The low meandered across central and southern California during these several days. This low allowed for unstable conditions over the entire district; quite a few locations in the San Joaquin Valley received at least a trace of rain. On the 9th, thunderstorms produced little rainfall, but they did cause quite a few wildfires due to lightning over the mountains in Kern County (around Keene, Breckenridge, and just to the east of Arvin and Bakersfield). As for the 10th, numerous thunderstorms developed over Kern County and much of the southern San Joaquin Valley during the evening. In addition, more wildfires developed over the Kern County mountains A severe thunderstorm warning and numerous significant weather advisories were issued throughout Kern County that evening; these storms moved westward into San Luis Obispo County later that night. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms redeveloped mainly over the Tehachapi Mountains and the Southern Sierra Nevada daily on the 11th, 12th, and 13th, and a few showers occurred over the south end of the San Joaquin Valley, including Bakersfield, on the 13th. Thunderstorms that developed over the Piutes during the afternoon of September 11th were nearly stationary, and runoff from these storms caused road flooding in the area south of Lake Isabella.
The South Lightning Tennessee Fire occurred in Tulare county 5 miles north of Fountain Springs. Reports indicated that the fire began on 9/11/11 at 1200 PDT due to heavy lightning strikes from thunderstorms.
The Tamarack wildfire occurred just northeast of Yosemite Valley in Mariposa County on 9/13/11 at 1912 PDT. This wildfire was caused by extensive lightning. The size was 480 acres. The fire was contained on 10/6/11. There were no lost fatalities or structures. Cost to containment was $75,000.
The Breckenridge wildfire Complex occurred in the Kern County Mountains, 10 miles NE of Bakersfield. The fire started on the 10th and was contained on the 17th, and caused by lightning strikes. The size was a whopping 25,213 acres. There were no fatalities or structures lost. The cost to containment was $7.1 million.
The Comanche wildfire Complex in Kern County mountains occurred on 9/10/11 at  0400 PDT, about 8 miles Southeast of Arvin, caused by lightning. The size was a whopping 29,338 acres. Containment was reached on 9/16/11. There were no fatalities or lost structures. The cost to containment was $6.8 million.
The Keene wildfire Complex occurred because on lightning on 9/10/11 at 1200 PDT. The location was along the Highway 58 corridor from Keene to Mojave in Kern County. The size was 10,479 acres. Containment was reached on 9/15/11. There were no fatalities or Structures Lost. The cost to containment was $8,839,174.

Wildfire in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 10-SEP-11 16:15:00 to 10-SEP-11 19:47:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Lightning in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 10-SEP-11 21:15:00 to 10-SEP-11 21:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: RIDGECREST
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A resident of Ridgecrest was struck by lightning and injured.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 11-SEP-11 17:16:00 to 11-SEP-11 19:16:00 (PST-8)
Location: KERNVALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported areas of street flooding in Lake Isabella and Bodfish as well as small hail.

Lightning in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 10-SEP-11 21:15:00 to 10-SEP-11 21:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: RIDGECREST
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Another resident of Ridgecrest was injured by a lightning strike from a thunderstorm.

Lightning in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 13-SEP-11 16:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: YOSEMITE LODGE
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Park Service officials reported 14 vehicles damaged by lightning at Porcupine Flat.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 11-SEP-11 16:37:00 to 11-SEP-11 18:37:00 (PST-8)
Location: KERNVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway Patrol reported street flooding in Kernville.

Wildfire in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 13-SEP-11 18:12:00 to 30-SEP-11 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Wildfire in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 10-SEP-11 19:56:00 to 17-SEP-11 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Wildfire in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 10-SEP-11 03:00:00 to 16-SEP-11 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Wildfire in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 10-SEP-11 11:00:00 to 15-SEP-11 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue