Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun

The National Weather Service is forecasting a change in the weather that will bring many in the valley relief. The upper ridge that has dominated our weather pattern for the past several days with record heat and summer like conditions broke down on Sunday as a strong upper low moved out of the Gulf of Alaska on Monday and swept through the region on Wednesday.

Temperatures gradually decreased on Sunday. Significantly cooler temperatures and breezy conditions are expected on Wednesday as the upper level trough axis moves across the region. We are expecting high temperatures on Wednesday to be around 5 to 15 degrees below normal. Campers and recreational interests need to be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions on Wednesday as significantly colder air moves into the area. Extra layers of clothing and protection against hypothermia will be required for rapidly changing weather conditions. Windy conditions in the Sierra were expected Tuesday with NW winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph through the canyons and passes above 8,000 feet. Windy conditions are also expected through the Kern County mountains, with NW winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph through the Grapevine and the Tehachapi passes. This kind of wind speeds can dangerously impact travel on high profile vehicles such as tractor trailers and campers.

A gradual warm up is expected Thursday and into Friday, but to only near normal fall-like values.