January 2018 began with strong high pressure dominating over Central California. The high broke down by the 4th as a low pressure system pushed through Northern California bringing generally light precipitation to the area although a few locations picked up between a quarter and half an inch of rainfall. A few inches of snow fell above 8000 feet. Another low pressure pushed through Northern California on the morning of January 6 which brought half an inch to an inch of rain to much of Yosemite Park and Mariposa Counties with lesser amounts further south. Snow was mainly confined to elevations above 8000 feet with this system. A strong low pressure system moved southward off the Central California coast then pushed inland across Southern California between the morning of the 8th and the evening of the 9th. This system produced more substantial rainfall across the area with many locations in the Southern Sierra Nevada picking up between an inch and 2 inches of liquid precipitation. Strong southerly flow ahead of the system resulted in warming across the area ahead of the low and snow levels were above 10000 feet on the 8th when most of the precipitation fell. As the low moved closer to the area on the morning of the 9th, strong downslope winds developed in the south end of the San Joaquin Valley and the valley facing slopes of the Kern County Mountains. Winds along interstate 5 frequently gusted above 50 mph and the Grapevine Peak RAWS (which is on an exposed ridge top) gusted up to 94 mph. Areas of street flooding were reported in the Bakersfield area on the morning of the 9th, and some mudslides were produced by heavy rainfall closing roads at the intersection of Cuddy Valley Road and Mil Portero Highway west of Frazier Park and on Redrock Randsburg Road in the Kern County Desert. Colder air pushed into the area on the back side of the low lowering the snow levels to 5000 to 5500 feet where a few inches of snow fell in post-frontal showery precipitation. A few thunderstorms were observed in the south end of the San Joaquin Valley in the unstable airmass. The precipitation had ended by the morning of the 10th as the low moved out of the area. However, upslope low clouds lingered in much of the San Joaquin Valley and the lower foothills of the Southern Sierra Nevada and Kern County Mountains while dense fog slowed down traffic along Interstate 5 in the Grapevine area and along Highway 58 near Tehachapi. Most of the low cloud deck cleared out by the evening of the 10th.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 11:00:00 to 09-JAN-18 11:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: BAKERSFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Pictures indicating roadway flooding in downtown Bakersfield near the intersection on Union Ave. and Truxton Ave. were received on Facebook and Twitter.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 11:19:00 to 09-JAN-18 11:19:00 (PST-8)
Location: BAKERSFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Pictures indicating roadway flooding on 23rd St. in downtown Bakersfield were received on Facebook and Twitter.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 11:22:00 to 09-JAN-18 11:22:00 (PST-8)
Location: BAKERSFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Pictures indicating the courthouse parking lot in Bakersfield was flooded were received on Facebook and Twitter.

Debris Flow in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 07:04:00 to 09-JAN-18 07:04:00 (PST-8)
Location: FRAZIER PARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public report of mudslide closing the intersection of Cuddy Valley Rd. and Mil Portero Hwy 8W Frazier Park.

Debris Flow in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 08:19:00 to 09-JAN-18 08:19:00 (PST-8)
Location: CANTIL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported flooding and debris across Redrock-Randsburg Rd. near Cantil and the road was closed to traffic.

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 03:13:00 to 09-JAN-18 03:13:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 82.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Grapevine Peak RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 94 mph.

High Wind in SE KERN CTY DESERT, CALIFORNIA
From 10-JAN-18 16:40:00 to 10-JAN-18 16:40:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Mojave Airport AWOS reported a peak wind gust of 70 mph.

Strong Wind in S SIERRA FOOTHILLS, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 10:14:00 to 09-JAN-18 10:14:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a downed large tree across the road 3S North Fork.

Strong Wind in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 09-JAN-18 10:12:00 to 09-JAN-18 10:12:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a downed tree blocking the roadway 6W Grant Grove.

Dense Fog in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 10-JAN-18 01:15:00 to 10-JAN-18 21:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Tehachapi AWOS reported visibility below a quarter mile and California Highway Patrol reported low visibility on Interstate 5 which slowed down traffic for much of the day as low level upslope flow produced low clouds which banked up on the valley facing slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains forming dense fog along Interstate 5 and State Route 58.