December 13, 2017
Summary: A band of rapidly moving high clouds is approaching the central part of the valley from the north. Following that band are high, thin clouds which may or may not make it as far south as the valley. Even if they did, it’s doubtful the radiational cooling process would be interrupted. Otherwise, skies are mostly clear over the entire region. Although a big ridge of high pressure aloft is retrograding farther out to sea, eventually a big ridge will build as far north as western Canada, creating a north to northeast flow aloft. Skies will remain generally clear at least through Wednesday of next week.
Hazy conditions will prevail with a few patches of late night and early morning fog.
There is just no end in sight to this long dry spell which has brought seasonal rain totals to pathetic levels. In fact, Bakersfield has recorded .03 since the first of October.
The two week model is a bit different this afternoon. It does show precipitation moving into the Pacific Northwest and northern California just a tad too far north to bring rain to the valley, but at least the northern portion of the blocking ridge will break down, possibly bringing some relief to the citrus belts.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Saturday with occasional high clouds tonight. Mostly clear skies Saturday night through Wednesday and continued hazy with a few patches of late night and early morning fog.
Short Term:
Madera 29/63/29/65 | Reedley 27/64/28/68 | Dinuba 28/64/29/66 | |
Porterville 28/66/29/67 | Lindsay 27/64/28/67 | Delano 29/65/29/67 | |
Bakersfield 35/67/37/71 | Arvin 33/68/35/70 | Taft 42/66/43/70 | |
Lamont 32/65/32/68 | Pixley 28/65/28/67 | Tulare 28/64/28/66 | |
Woodlake 27/64/28/66 | Hanford 29/65/29/66 | Orosi 27/64/28/66 |
Winds: Winds will be less than10 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Saturday.
Rain: Expect dry weather for at least the next seven to ten days.
Frost Information: Dew points this afternoon are from 1 to 3 degrees lower than 24 hours ago while air temperatures are roughly the same as yesterday afternoon. There is a band of high clouds racing southward through the central portion of the valley at this hour and it will quickly drive southward into the south valley later this afternoon and evening. There’s also some high clouds over northern California which are also moving north to south and could very well make it into central California later tonight sometime. Like so many other nights, these high clouds will probably be too thin to really make much of a difference in the radiational cooling process. Therefore, I believe tonight will be similar to last night with widespread mid to upper 20s in Tulare, Fresno and Madera Counties and upper 20s to mid 30s in Kern County.
Coldest overnight lows tonight will chill down to 25 to 27 with most locations at 28 to 30 with hillsides again being above freezing.
The inversion tonight will be fabulous again with temperatures 5 to 9 degrees warmer at 34 feet.
I anticipate very little change through the weekend. In fact, a northeast flow aloft will develop early next week with yet another off shore flow which could actually lower dew points a bit. That’s not in concrete yet, but we’ll keep and eye on it.
The two week model is advertising the possibility of showers for northern California, but remaining dry in central and southern California. But at least it would spread cloud cover over the area and possibly bring up dew points.
Lows Tonight:
Terra Bella
29 |
Porterville
28 |
Ivanhoe
28 |
Woodlake
28 |
Strathmore
28 |
McFarland
27 |
Ducor
29 |
Tea Pot Dome
28 |
Lindsay
27 |
Exeter
27 |
Famoso
29 |
Madera
29 |
Belridge
28 |
Delano
29 |
North Bakersfield
30 |
Orosi
27 |
Orange Cove
28 |
Lindcove
27 |
Lindcove hillside
AF |
Sanger River Bottom
25 |
Root Creek
27 |
Venice Hill
28 |
Rosedale
30 |
Jasmine
29 |
Arvin
32 |
Lamont
34 |
Plainview
27 |
Mettler
34 |
Edison
30 |
Maricopa
32 |
Holland Creek
31 |
Tivy Valley
28 |
Kite Road South
32 |
Kite Road North
29 |
Next Report: Thursday morning, December 14