December 13, 2017
Summary: Strong radiational cooling was evident once again last night with widespread mid to upper 20s in the citrus belts and upper 20s to the mid 30s in Kern County. Strong upper level high pressure currently is slipping off shore, but will not change the pattern much as the surface low will remain off shore and a layer of dry air remains on the valley floor. This will mean there will continue to be a big difference between daytime highs and overnight lows. A weak dry trough of low pressure will move into the Great Basin Friday night, but the impact on the valley will again be minimal.
The surface high which has been over the Great Basin will strengthen Thursday for another round of strong, gusty winds over the mountain areas and will contribute to the dry air mass we’re dealing with. The upper high will strengthen early next week and the surface high will remain in place for a continuation of the off shore flow.
For now it seems the high will move inland again, locking in the same old pattern. Longer term, one model shows a strong northeast flow over California around the 23rd couple with another strong off shore flow. That could potentially bring a colder air mass into central California, but it’s only one model for now, so these medium range teasers continue.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Saturday. mostly clear skies will continue Saturday night through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 62/28/64/28/69 | Reedley 63/28/64/28/67 | Dinuba 62/27/65/28/67 | |
| Porterville 63/28/65/28/69 | Lindsay 63/27/65/28/68 | Delano 64/29/65/30/68 | |
| Bakersfield 65/36/68/38/70 | Arvin 66/32/69/32/71 | Taft 65/39/67/42/71 | |
| Lamont 65/32/68/33/71 | Pixley 63/28/65/28/66 | Tulare 63/27/65/28/67 | |
| Woodlake 62/28/65/28/66 | Hanford 63/28/65/28/67 | Orosi 62/27/65/28/66 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Mostly clear 29/62 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 29/65 |
Monday
Mostly clear 28/66 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 28/65 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 29/65 |
Two Week Outlook: December 20 through December 26: There’s really no change to speak of. A big ridge will continue to be over the west with a big trough east of the Rockies. With this pattern in place, there will be limited opportunities for rain with above average daytime highs and subfreezing overnight lows.
December: This model is indicating a better than even chance of above average temperatures for central and southern California all the way to the southeast with near to below average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest. As far as precipitation is concerned, this model does show better than average precip over Washington and Oregon and near average rainfall over central and northern California.
December, January, February: If this model is to be believed, winter this year will experience somewhat above average temperatures from California, stretching eastward and southward. Below average temperatures would prevail from the northern Rockies through the Plains states. As far as California is concerned, precipitation would be near to marginally below average with temperatures marginally above average, but take all this with a grain of salt.
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 10 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Saturday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Frost: It was cold last night as widespread mid to upper 20s were evident with upper 20s to mid 30s in Kern County. The coldest I could find was 26 at west Porterville with many other locations at 27 to 29 degrees. This has become a way of life lately as this dry air mass is trapped below a bubble of high pressure and its descending air. This is the way it will be until we receive some kind of system to result in an exchange of air masses. Currently, I just don’t see that in the distance.
Mid to upper 20s will again be widespread tonight with low to mid 30s in Kern County. Coldest overnight lows in unprotected riverbed and like locations will dip down into the 25 to 27 degree range with most other locations ranging from 27 to 30. Hillsides will be above freezing. In Kern County, upper 20s to the mid 30s are likely.
The inversion tonight will again be strong with temperatures at 34 feet from 5 to 9 degrees warmer. Again, models do not indicate a break in this pattern, so we’ll just continue to enjoy mild afternoons but have cold nights with hazy conditions indefinitely.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
27 |
Porterville
27 |
Ivanhoe
28 |
Woodlake
28 |
| Strathmore
28 |
McFarland
27 |
Ducor
29 |
Tea Pot Dome
28 |
| Lindsay
27 |
Exeter
27 |
Famoso
29 |
Madera
28 |
| Belridge
28 |
Delano
29 |
North Bakersfield
30 |
Orosi
27 |
| Orange Cove
28 |
Lindcove
27 |
Lindcove Hillside
AF |
Sanger River Bottom
24 |
| Root Creek
26 |
Venice Hill
28 |
Rosedale
30 |
Jasmine
28 |
| Arvin
33 |
Lamont
33 |
Plainview
28 |
Mettler
35 |
| Edison
30 |
Maricopa
31 |
Holland Creek
32 |
Tivy Valley
28 |
| Kite Road South
31 |
Kite Road North
28 |
AF=Above Freezing
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 30s. Bakersfield, low to mid 30s.
Relative Humidity Forecast: Hanford, 35%/95% Bakersfield, 30%/65%
Actual Humidity December 11, 2017: Delano, NA, Porterville, 95%/32%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today 100% tomorrow 100%, Bakersfield: Today 100% tomorrow 100%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days December 11, 2017: Stratford .45, Parlier .38, Blackwell, .52 Lindcove .43, Arvin .50, Orange Cove .44, Porterville .37, Delano .NA., Madera Two .36. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 50, Parlier 50, Blackwell 54, Lindcove, 56, Arvin, 54, Orange Cove 50, Porterville 50, Delano NA, Madera Two 52
Mean Temperatures for December. Month So Far: 47.8 +1.8
Record Temperatures: 69/18. Average Temperatures: 56/35
Heating Degree Days this Season: 494, -216 Courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since December 11, 2017 Fresno: .37 season. or -1.84. Month to Date: T
Since December 11, 2017, Bakersfield: .03, or -1.22, Month to Date: ..00
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling ours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 236, Parlier, 256, Arvin, 194, Shafter, 291, Stratford, 241, Madera two, 397, Alpaugh, 283, Delano, NA, Lindcove, 226, Porterville, 376. Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 7:03 am Sunset: 4:43 pm. Hours of Daylight: 9:40
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 63 / 32 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 63 / 34 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 64 / 28 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / M / M / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 64 / 34 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1500 / 47 / 31 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1554 / 67 / 31 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 65 / 31 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1555 / 62 / 40 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 61 / 33 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Season % Last y. % Ave. Annual Ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 0.91 28 4.64 141 3.28 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 0.98 36 3.65 134 2.72 13.11
MERCED 0.00 1.03 43 3.08 129 2.39 12.50
MADERA 0.00 0.32 13 2.67 107 2.50 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 0.37 16 2.46 109 2.26 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 0.37 20 1.09 60 1.81 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 0.03 2 0.66 52 1.28 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 0.16 15 0.09 8 1.06 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 0.75 28 3.00 113 2.65 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 0.25 11 2.68 118 2.27 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 0.09 3 3.09 118 2.62 13.95
Next Report: Wednesday, December 13/pm