August 29, 2017
Summary: Strong upper level high pressure continues to be centered over the Great Basin this morning. This is driving temperatures through the roof as near record to even record temperatures were again recorded yesterday. Most locations were between 107 and 111. Bakersfield hit 110 as did Avenal. In addition to the heat is mid level moisture moving in from the south. It’s being rotated around the western side of the high and will give the valley occasional periods of mainly mid level clouds through the week. Thunderstorms are again possible over the Sierra and the Kern County mountains and deserts. Temperatures should slide at least a bit Wednesday and Thursday as a trough of low pressure moving through the Pacific Northwest will weaken the high a bit. We may also receive a temporary burst of marine air down the valley but temperatures will still be in triple digits.
Once this trough moves through, temperatures are likely to reach excessive levels again Friday through Monday as the high rebounds over the Great Basin. Also, models are showing a tropical low near the southern tip of Baja by Friday. some models move moisture as far north as extreme southern California but for now it appears it will remain south of our region. This is the type of situation, though, that bears watching as the winds aloft over the weekend will again be out of the south.
At least the first half of next week will be hot as that upper high remains in place with temperatures well over the 100 degree mark and thunderstorms continuing over the Sierra Nevada with a slight chance over the Kern County mountains.
Forecast: Mostly clear and hot through Friday with occasional periods of mid and high clouds. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Friday night through Tuesday and continued hot.
Short Term:
| Madera 108/72/103/69/104 | Reedley 109/74/104/70/104 | Dinuba 107/71/103/68/103 | |
| Porterville 109/74/104/70/104 | Lindsay 108/74/104/69/103 | Delano 110/76/104/73/105 | |
| Bakersfield 111/82/105/77/105 | Arvin 111/79/106/78/106 | Taft 109/84/103/81/105 | |
| Lamont 111/79/103/75/106 | Pixley 108/74/104/70/104 | Tulare 108/73/104/70/103 | |
| Woodlake 107/72/103/68/104 | Hanford 109/73/104/69/105 | Orosi 108/72/103/68/103 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Friday
Mostly clear 73/107 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 74/108 |
Sunday
Partly cloudy 76/108 |
Monday
Partly cloudy 75/104 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 73/104 |
Two Week Outlook: September 4 through September 10: This model is rather interesting this morning. It shows a moist, southerly flow moving into southern California from a possible tropical system not even on the weather map yet. On paper, central California is on the northern rim of activity. It’s too far out to put rain in the forecast, but it is a model one doesn’t see often. Temperatures will remain at least marginally above average.
September: This model shows upper level high pressure more dominant over the western U.S. There’s no clear indicator of above or below average rainfall as we move into the fall season. With that in mind, we’ll call for near average precipitation for the month.
September, October, November: It appears temperatures overall will rise to above average values for the bulk of this time frame. Upper level high pressure is also more dominant with precipitation, believe it or not, predicted to be somewhat near average.
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 15 MPH through Friday and mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings.
Rain: Expect dry weather indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Low to mid 50s
Relative Humidity Forecast: Hanford, 20%/80% Bakersfield, 15%/50%
Actual Humidity August 27, 2017: Delano, 94%/20%, Porterville, 74%/18%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today 70% tomorrow 70%, Bakersfield: Today 80% tomorrow 70%.
ET Rates over the Past Seven Days August 27, 2017: Stratford 1.90, Parlier 1.50, Blackwell 1.90, Lindcove 1.59, Arvin 1.87, Orange Cove 1.78, Porterville 1.52, Delano 1.67, Madera Two 1.49. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 77, Parlier 81, Blackwell 81, Lindcove 79, Arvin 1.89, Orange Cove 82, Porterville 85, Delano 83, Madera Two 81
Mean Temperatures for August Month So Far: 82.7. +4.3
Record Temperatures: 108/52. Average Temperatures: 95/63
Cooling Degree Days This Season: 1721, +438 Courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since August 27, 2017, Fresno: 17.20 season / +5.87 or +5.87, Month to Date: T
Since August 27, 2017, Bakersfield: 7.88, or 1.46, Month to Date: T, Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Shafter, , Stratford, Madera two, Alpaugh, Delano, Lindcove, Porterville, Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:28 am Sunset: 7:31 Hours of Daylight: 13:05
Yesterday’s Weather
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 108 / 68 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 109 / 73 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 109 / 68 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / M / 69 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 108 / 79 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 105 / 68 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1658 / 110 / 74 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 108 / 71 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1700 / 108 / 83 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 105 / 75 / 0.00 /
Rainfall:
To date Last year Average Annual ave
STOCKTON 0.00 21.79 158 16.69 121 13.77 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 16.93 132 15.61 121 12.85 13.11
MERCED 0.00 16.03 131 14.66 120 12.20 12.50
MADERA 0.00 14.18 121 12.96 110 11.76 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 17.20 152 14.29 126 11.33 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 11.05 111 8.26 83 9.93 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.82 123 5.43 85 6.38 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 9.18 185 3.88 78 4.97 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 16.45 130 13.47 106 12.66 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 16.14 129 8.06 64 12.55 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 18.44 134 9.00 65 13.81 13.95
Rainfall season from October 1st through September 30th
Next Report: Wednesday, August 30