Summary: A veil of high clouds based above 20,000 feet continues to stream over northern and central California. From the Tehachapi Mountains southward, skies are largely clear. These high clouds continue to overrun a ridge of upper level high pressure located just off shore and are projected by models to continue to do so through Christmas night.
There will be a ripple of upper level low pressure moving through northern California tonight with the main energy moving into the Great Basin. Another similar ripple of low pressure will move through Monday night, aiding in the cloud cover situation.
What will be a bit tricky tonight is that there are gaps in the cloud deck off shore which could last a few hours at a time as they stream overhead. Of course, this make frost forecasting difficult. We’ll discuss this more in the frost section.
From Tuesday through New Year’s, a strong, persistent ridge of high pressure will be just off shore and will leave California on its eastern flank. This will generally create a west/northwest flow aloft, keeping true winter from the Rockies eastward.
The two week model out this afternoon is indicating a high probability of dry weather through the sixth of January.
Forecast: Partly cloudy tonight through Monday night. mostly clear Tuesday through New Year’s Eve with perhaps occasional high clouds and a patch or two of fog during the late night and morning hours.
Short Term:
| Madera 34/59/34/63 | Reedley 33/60/34/63 | Dinuba 33/59/34/64 | |
| Porterville 33/61/33/643 | Lindsay 32/61/33/64 | Delano 34/61/34/65 | |
| Bakersfield 37/62/38/65 | Arvin 34/61/33/65 | Taft 40/62/40/65 | |
| Lamont 34/61/35/64 | Pixley 33/60/33/64 | Tulare 32/59/33/63 | |
| Woodlake 34/60/34/64 | Hanford 33/61/34/64 | Orosi 32/60/33/63 | |
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 10 MPH through Wednesday with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next seven to ten days.
Frost Information: Temperatures this afternoon are averaging about 3 degrees warmer than yesterday at this time. This is despite the cloud cover. Dew points are up a bit and generally range from the mid 30s up to some locations where the dew point is near 40.
Tonight’s forecast will be a bit tricky as satellite imagery clear indicates there are gaps in the cloud cover which is streaming in from the west. This means there will be gaps over the valley floor at times during the night. if these gaps really do open up, we could see readings in the upper 20s to the lower 30s in the colder locations, however, model information does show a broken layer of clouds over the valley continuing through Christmas night.
A couple ripples of upper level low pressure will move through…one tonight and the other Christmas night. these minor little features will be unannounced as there’s really nothing to them.
My gut feeling is that most locations will be at or above freezing, but keep in mind, periods of clear skies could lower temperatures into the upper 20s in the low spots to the lower 30s elsewhere.
For tonight’s forecast, I’m going to forecast temperatures at or near freezing at most locations, but just in case I’m going to lower the traditional low spots at or near 32.
The inversion tonight will be strong with temperatures at 34 feet anywhere from 4 to 7 degrees warmer.
From Tuesday and beyond, strong upper level high pressure will take over with generally clear skies through at least New Year’s Eve. Clear skies means good radiational cooling, so up9per 20s to lower 30s will certainly be possible, especially in the colder locations. However, daytime highs will be mild with low to possibly mid 60s which is very comfortable this time of year.
Medium range outlooks going out through January 6 gives a high probability of dry weather but the flow aloft will be generally out of the west to northwest, continuing to block modified polar air from moving into the valley.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
31 |
Porterville
AF |
Ivanhoe
AF |
Woodlake
AF |
| Strathmore
31 |
McFarland
31 |
Ducor
AF |
Tea Pot Dome
AF |
| Lindsay
32 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
AF |
Madera
AF |
| Belridge
AF |
Delano
AF |
North Bakersfield
AF |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
AF |
Lindcove
31 |
Lindcove Hillside
AF |
Sanger River Bottom
29 |
| Root Creek
31 |
Venice Hill
32 |
Rosedale
AF |
Jasmine
AF |
| Arvin
AF |
Lamont
32 |
Plainview
AF |
Mettler
AF |
| Edison
AF |
Maricopa
AF |
Holland Creek
AF |
Tivy Valley
32 |
| Kite Road South
AF |
Kite Road North
32 |
Next Report: Christmas morning