A little bit of rain, cooler temperatures expected today
BY JILL COWAN Californian staff writer jcowan@bakersfield.com
It was windy and warm in Kern County on Monday thanks to a low-pressure system headed this way from the coast, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Ochs.
But by this afternoon, he said, that same pressure system is expected to bring a bit of rain -- the first Bakersfield has seen since Jan. 23.
Less than one-tenth of an inch is expected to fall this afternoon and tonight.
In the meantime, Ochs said, winds gusting at 25 to 30 miles per hour Monday afternoon were "just enough to blow stuff around." Later Monday afternoon dust was reported as a factor in several traffic snags.
However, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued a health cautionary statement Monday afternoon, reminding valley residents with heart or lung disease that dust and particulate matter in the air could aggravate such conditions. The caution is in effect until this afternoon.
The statement also said older adults and children should avoid prolonged exposure to blowing dust.
Ochs added that gusts reached more than 50 mph on the Grapevine at about 10 a.m. Monday.
The winds, he said, were forecast to continue Monday night, picking up to reach speeds of about 35 to 40 mph. Then, as morning approaches, the winds "should taper off," dropping to 10 to 15 mph.
Temperatures hovered in the low 70s Monday afternoon and were expected to hit 76 degrees today.
That's warmer than normal for early February, Ochs said, with temperatures for this time of year typically coming in at about 60 degrees.
Still, today's rain will likely cool things down considerably.
Wednesday, expect a high of 60 degrees, which will rise throughout the rest of the week to the upper 60s by Friday and through the weekend, Ochs said.
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