Great Bakersfield Dust Storm of 1977 facts for kids
| Date | December 19 - December 21 |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern San Joaquin Valley |
| Also known as | Southern San Joaquin Valley Dust Storm |
| Outcome | $40 million in damages |
| Deaths | 5 |
The Great Bakersfield Dust Storm of 1977 was a huge dust storm. It hit the Southern San Joaquin Valley in California. This powerful storm started on the evening of December 19, 1977. It finally ended on the afternoon of December 21. The storm caused 5 deaths. It also led to $40 million in damages. This amount does not include later farm losses.
Contents
How the Dust Storm Began
December 19, 1977, started as a typical cold winter day. By 11:00 PM, it was 44 °F (7 °C) with a light wind. But things quickly changed. Around 11:30 PM, the air began to warm up. The wind also changed direction and grew much stronger. Dust started blowing everywhere, making it hard to see.
Morning Chaos in Bakersfield
Early the next morning, power flickered on and off across the city. The wind was even stronger now. Still, people went to work, and schools opened. But by 9:00 AM, schools were closed. Parents were asked to pick up their children. There was a worry that tall school buses might blow over.
Daytime Darkness and Communication Issues
By late morning, the wind was roaring loudly. So much dust filled the air that it blocked out the sun. Roads leading into and out of the southern valley were shut down. Only one TV station and a few radio stations still had power. They were the only ones broadcasting news. Bakersfield did not have a direct link to national news. So, people outside the area did not know how bad the storm was.
Wind's Fury and Mud Rain
The wind kept blowing hard all afternoon and evening. Swamp coolers were ripped off roofs. Windows shattered, and store signs flew through the air. People described it like a giant tornado unrolling across the valley. Farther north, in Fresno, it was raining. When the dust reached the rain, it turned into thick mud. This mud fell from the sky in sheets.
People woke up the next morning to a dark sky. The wind had blown all night and was still going strong. Schools stayed closed that day. By the afternoon, the wind finally started to calm down. The air slowly began to clear.
What Happened After the Storm
By the afternoon of December 21, people started to see the damage. The results were terrible. Trees, fences, and swamp coolers were blown down everywhere. Roads that were lower than the ground, canals, and creeks were buried under dirt. Piles of dirt were stacked against the south sides of buildings. Fine dust had seeped into every tiny crack. It covered the inside of buildings with a layer of grime.
Cleaning Up and Flooding
After several days, the roads were reopened. News reports about the storm finally started leaving the valley. People began the huge task of digging out and cleaning up. By spring, not all the canals and creeks were cleared. Because of this, when the rain came, it caused flooding.
The storm caused five deaths and $40 million in damages. Over 25 million cubic feet (710,000 m3) of topsoil was moved by the wind. This was just from grazing land. The wind was measured at 192 miles per hour (309 km/h) in Arvin. In the foothills, it reached 189 miles per hour (304 km/h). In the mountain passes, the wind hit 199 miles per hour (320 km/h).
Why the Dust Storm Happened
The Great Bakersfield Dust Storm was caused by several things happening at once.
Dry Land and Loose Soil
First, the region had been in a drought for several years. This made the ground very dry. Also, cotton crops had just been plowed under for the end of the season. But the new winter crops had not yet grown roots. This meant the soil was very loose and easily picked up by the wind.
Powerful Winds
Second, very strong winds were also part of the cause. Over the Great Basin, an area in Nevada and Idaho, the air was very cold and heavy. This created a high-pressure system. At the same time, a very strong low-pressure system was moving towards the northwest coast of California.
Normally, a small difference in air pressure (about 0.10 inHg (3.4 hPa)) can create a 12-mile-per-hour (19 km/h) wind. But on the day of the storm, the pressure difference was much bigger. It was about 0.60 inHg (20 hPa). This huge difference created the incredibly powerful winds that caused the dust storm.
