Great Bakersfield Dust Storm of 1977
The Great Bakersfield Dust Storm of 1977 (also known as the Southern San Joaquin Valley Dust Storm) was a severe dust storm in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California. It started in the late evening on December 19, 1977 and ended in the afternoon of December 21. It resulted in 5 deaths and $40 million in damages (does not include subsequent agricultural losses).
December 19 started like most cold winter days. At 11:00 pm, the temperature was 44 °F (7 °C) with a light northwestern wind. By 11:30 pm, the air began to warm and the wind increased. Dust began to restrict visibility. Electrical power became sporadic throughout the city by early morning.[ 1] By 9:00 am school was cancelled, and parents were asked to pick up their children because of the concern that school buses might tip over in the wind.[ 2]
By late morning, the wind became a loud roar. Enough dust was in the air that it blocked out the sun. Roads into and out of the southern valley were closed. Only one TV station and two or three AM radio stations continued to have power and were able to broadcast. Also, since Bakersfield did not have a direct feed to national news broadcast, no one outside of the area knew the severity of the situation.[ 1]
