February began with an upper-level trough moving through California. The trough brought gusty winds to the mountain and desert areas, with gusts to 40 mph continuing below the Tehachapi Pass into the evening hours of the 1st. However, it had no effect on the above-normal temperatures across the region, as highs at both
Bakersfield and Fresno were 7 degrees above normal.
An upper-level ridge built into the state behind the trough. With a stable airmass in place, a stratus layer formed over the San Joaquin Valley on February 2nd. A dry northwest flow set up over California, with the central California interior between the departing trough to the east and the ridge to the west. This flow helped dissipate the stratus as the day progressed, with the last vestiges of the stratus lingering over the east side of the San Joaquin Valley and the adjacent foothills.
The ridge remained over California through February 6th, and then it gave way to an approaching upper-level trough. Patchy fog developed over Merced and Madera Counties during the morning of the 3rd; otherwise mostly clear skies prevailed across the region. Overnight temperatures fell into the 30s under the clear skies, but highs in the central and southern San Joaquin Valley warmed into the mid 60s to mid 70s each day from the 3rd through the 5th.
The upper-level trough moved into the central California interior on February 6th. Temperatures over the northern parts of the region cooled, but the south end of the San Joaquin Valley warmed into the mid 70s in strong pre-frontal warming. Strong southeast winds funneled through the passes of the Tehachapi Mountains into the far south end of the Valley, spreading as far north as Bakersfield. Winds gusted to 73 mph at Grapevine Peak on the 6th, and to 45 mph at Meadows Field. A dust storm was created near Lamont by the gusty winds with near-zero visibility. Gusts between 35-45 mph continued over the central and southern San Joaquin Valley continued on February 7th, and sustained wind speeds of 53 mph near Pine Mountain Club in the Tehachapi Mountains.
On the afternoon of the 6th, strong winds in the Bakersfield area caused blowing dust. Winds estimated around 35 mph at around 545 pm caused blowing dust and a school bus and big rig collided at Fairfax Road and Panorama Boulevard in Bakersfield due to blowing dust.
On the morning of the 7th, strong winds knocked down power poles in both the Fresno and Bakersfield areas.
Clouds associated with the trough spread over the San Joaquin Valley on the 7th and kept night-time temperatures mild. Both Bakersfield and Fresno set record high minimum temperatures for the date of 53 degrees, with the low at Meadows Field occurring only 25 minutes before midnight.

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 06-FEB-12 17:48:00 to 07-FEB-12 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in W CENTRAL S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 07-FEB-12 02:27:00 to 07-FEB-12 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong Wind in SW S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 07-FEB-12 02:27:00 to 07-FEB-12 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 06-FEB-12 09:00:00 to 07-FEB-12 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 45.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong Wind in SE S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 06-FEB-12 15:42:00 to 06-FEB-12 22:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement