May 5, 1998
An active thunderstorm band moved from southwest to northeast through west Kern County with 1/2-inch hail reported at Buena Vista Lake at 1403 PDT...torrential rain in southwest Bakersfield by 1515 PDT leading to widespread urban flooding...and flooding again in northeast Bakersfield by 1525 PDT. Pea-size hail piled 2-3 inches deep in SW Bakersfield by 1515PDT. Radar estimates placed numerous rainfall rate areas of 1.25-1.75" per hour southwest and west of Bakersfield. Downtown Bakersfield had
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5637740). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Kern County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.