Christmas Day, 2017
Summary: Embedded within a westerly flow aloft are high clouds. There have been gaps between cloud bands which allowed temperatures last night to fall into the low to mid 30s. in fact, east Porterville dropped to 29 as did Strathmore. Those were the coldest locations I could find as of 6:00am. Models do show more high clouds streaming in from the west tonight and during the day Tuesday. A weak wave of low pressure will move through central California Tuesday with no rain but with fairly dense cloud cover. At this time, it does not appear this system will be strong enough to exchange air masses so dry air will continue to be trapped on the valley floor for the remainder of the year.
Strong upper level high pressure will shift eastward beginning Tuesday night over the western third of the country. This will result in clear skies late Tuesday night and through the end of the year. With little or no cloud cover, temperatures by Wednesday morning should shift down into the upper 20s to the lower 30s. currently it looks like coldest locations could dip to 27 to 28 or so and possibly colder in the cold, low lying locations.
The fact that mostly clear skies will continue through the end of the year means strong radiational cooling will take place each night.
Models for around January 1 are somewhat varies this morning, but rather interesting. There’s little signature for rain yet, but one model is showing strong low just off shore while another simply moves a dry cold front through. Also, medium range models for the 3-5 are rather interesting. They show an upper high flanking from southwest to northeast into the Pacific Northwest, turning the winds aloft out of the northeast. This could transport colder air into the valley. I’m certainly not calling for any problems at this time as it’s simply too far away and no trends have developed, but just that’s it’s something to watch.
My feeling is that most locations tonight will remain somewhere in the 30s due to cloud cover, however satellite imagery does show areas of clear skies between cloud bands. Coldest locations tonight, like this morning, could drop to near 30 or so, but it’s certainly a safe night.
The inversion tonight will be strong with temperatures at 34 feet at generally 4 to 8 degrees warmer.
Hope all of you are having a Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.
Forecast: Variable high clouds today mixed with sunshine. Variable cloudiness tonight and Tuesday. Clearing Tuesday night. Mostly clear Wednesday through New Year’s Day.
High temperatures today will range from the mid 50s to near 60. Lows tonight will range in the low to mid 30s. Highs Tuesday will warm into the mid 50s to the low 60s. Lows Tuesday night will range in the upper 20s to the mid 30s. Highs Wednesday will warm into the low to mid 60s.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
32 |
Porterville
31 |
Ivanhoe
AF |
Woodlake
AF |
| Strathmore
31 |
McFarland
32 |
Ducor
AF |
Tea Pot Dome
AF |
| Lindsay
32 |
Exeter
32 |
Famoso
AF |
Madera
AF |
| Belridge
AF |
Delano
AF |
North Bakersfield
AF |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
AF |
Lindcove
32 |
Lindcove Hillside
AF |
Sanger River Bottom
30 |
| Root Creek
30 |
Venice Hill
AF |
Rosedale
AF |
Jasmine
AF |
| Arvin
AF |
Lamont
32 |
Plainview
AF |
Mettler
AF |
| Edison
AF |
Maricopa
32 |
Holland Creek
AF |
Tivy Valley
32 |
| Kite Road South
AF |
Kite Road North
31 |
Next Report: Christmas afternoon