This month began with very hot temperatures for most locations throughout the central California interior as strong high pressure continued to dominate. Highs reached near 110 degrees in many San Joaquin Valley locations with overnight lows dropping only into the upper 70s to low 80s until the 4th. In fact, Bakersfield did reach 110 degrees on the 2nd, with a low temperature of only 83 degrees (2 degrees shy of the record high minimum for the date). Record high minimum temperatures were reached in Bakersfield on July 1st and 3rd, and in Fresno on the 2nd and 3rd.  Thunderstorms developed over the high country of the southern Sierra Nevada and the Kern County deserts. Outflow winds from collapsing thunderstorms hit Ridgecrest during the morning of July 2nd, with gusts estimated at 75 mph knocking down trees and power lines, and damaging roofs. Pea-size hail fell at the White Wolf campground in Yosemite National Park during the afternoon of July 3rd.
By the 5th, intrusions of marine air filtered into the San Joaquin Valley but remained north of Fresno, especially at Pacheco Pass and Merced. It was enough to dry to the airmass so that locations were much cooler at night, but daytime high temperatures continued to remain from the upper 90s to around 100 degrees in most southern and central San Joaquin Valley locations. Although some weakening of the upper-level ridge occurred during the July 5th through the 7th, high pressure continued to remain in control over much of the region for the first half of the month.
By July 8th, high pressure began to rebuild over the region. High temperatures and nighttime lows trended back upward until around the 9th before they slightly moderated on July 10th. On the 10th, there was mid-level cloud cover over the region, which brought showers and thunderstorms to the Kern County desert areas, Tehachapi Mountains, southern Sierra Nevada, and even some sprinkles to parts of the San Joaquin Valley. This weather was due to an influx of monsoonal moisture from the southeast as the axis of the prevailing ridge of high pressure shifted to southern Nevada.
From the 12th until the 15th, high pressure remained in control with little change in temperatures over the region. A typical summer southwest flow aloft prevailed, allowing thunderstorm activity to remain confined over the Sierra Nevada crest.
A break in the long string of above normal temperatures finally ended by the 16th for some valley locations as a fairly strong push of marine air filtered into the San Joaquin Valley. In fact, Fresno recorded 19 consecutive days of maximum temperatures of 100 degrees or greater from June 27th until July 15th, and this ties for the 4th longest period of consecutive days of triple digit temperatures (see table below).

Thunderstorm Wind in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 02-JUL-13 08:00:00 to 02-JUL-13 08:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: RIDGECREST
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

City of Ridgecrest was slammed with numerous reports of wind damage.  This damage was caused my outflow winds from severe thunderstorms.  Winds were estimated up to 75 mph.  Power poles were knocked down with power outages.  Several trees down and damage to roof tops scattered throughout the city.  Damage value is estimated.