A cold upper low pressure system dropped into northern California during the morning of May 20 carving out a strong upper trough into the western U.S. A cold front associated with this system also pushed through the area during the day and brought a period a very strong winds to the Kern County Deserts as well as to the Tehachapi and Lake Isabella area in the Kern County Mountains. Several stations reported gusts exceeding 60 mph while a few low impact indicator sites briefly measured gusts exceeding 90 mph. Several roads across the impacted area were closed as a precaution between the late morning and the late evening hours of May 20. The winds diminished during the early morning of May 21 as the cold front moved out of the area, leaving an unseasonably cool airmass over the area for a few days. Some instability allowed for some rain and snow showers to develop during the afternoon of May 21 mainly over the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills. Precipitation amounts were generally light, mainly up to a quarter inch of liquid precipitation with elevations above 6000 feet picking up at much as 2 inches of new snowfall.

High Wind in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 23:27:00 to 20-MAY-21 23:27:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 81.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 93 mph.

High Wind in TEHACHAPI AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 12:14:00 to 20-MAY-21 12:14:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.

High Wind in LAKE ISABELLA, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 22:32:00 to 20-MAY-21 22:32:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

High Wind in LAKE ISABELLA, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 13:10:00 to 20-MAY-21 13:10:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Bear Peak RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.

High Wind in LAKE ISABELLA, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 14:00:00 to 20-MAY-21 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Walker Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

High Wind in INDIAN WELLS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 19:26:00 to 20-MAY-21 19:26:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 79.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 91 mph.

High Wind in KERN COUNTY DESERT, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 09:01:00 to 20-MAY-21 09:01:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Cache Creek CHP station measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.

High Wind in KERN COUNTY DESERT, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 06:10:00 to 20-MAY-21 06:10:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

The Southern California Edison Station at Cache Creek measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph.

Strong Wind in FOGGY BOTTOM, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAY-21 12:00:00 to 20-MAY-21 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 26.00 EG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

NWS Employee reported wind gusts blew a tree into a house in northeast Hanford.