Monster storm rips through Kern County with a vengeance

Here it comes. The weather front some are calling Stormageddon blew into Kern County Thursday, bringing winds that surpassed the standard for a category-one hurricane.

Winds approaching 80 mph hit Grapevine Peak at about 8 p.m. -- 74 mph qualifies as a low-level hurricane -- and wind gusts at Meadows Field exceeded 50 mph, according to meteorologist Christine Riley of the National Weather Service in Hanf