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KCSO search and rescue teams battle "Killer" Kern River during holiday weekend

River takes 3 lives, crews manage to rescue 20
Deadly weekend at the Kern River
Local rafting group rescues little boy in the Kern River
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The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Crews were busy all weekend as hundreds of people made their way to the Kern River to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend.

 

The worst fear for Kern County: search-and-rescue becoming a reality. While the river, also known as the “Killer” Kern, took three more lives, as many as 20 people were saved.

 

On Saturday, a 40-year-old man fell out of a boat while rafting in Tulare County.

 

On Sunday, the body of a 47-year-old woman was recovered near Hart Park a day after the boat carrying her and 5 others was swept away.

 

On Monday, a man in his mid-40s was recovered near Lake Isabella after he was rafting on Sunday evening.

 

 

Officials say that the river conditions pose an even greater danger during the summer as a lot of snow melts in the higher elevations. 

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Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

12/08/2025

Fog Late

-° / 40°

9%

Tuesday

12/09/2025

Fog Late

51° / 40°

8%

Wednesday

12/10/2025

Fog Late

54° / 42°

6%

Thursday

12/11/2025

Mostly Clear

57° / 43°

6%

Friday

12/12/2025

Mostly Clear

60° / 45°

4%

Saturday

12/13/2025

Partly Cloudy

61° / 44°

5%

Sunday

12/14/2025

Partly Cloudy

59° / 44°

5%

Monday

12/15/2025

Partly Cloudy

60° / 45°

4%