December 26, 2017
Summary: Temperatures have warmed into the low to mid 60s this afternoon which is anywhere from 4 to 7 degrees warmer than yesterday. Abundant sunshine and building upper level high pressure are moving daytime temperatures upward. Dew points are running in the mid to upper 30s this afternoon, pretty much a ditto of the past several nights. This will lead to strong radiational cooling tonight, discussed in more depth below.
The off shore high has booted the weak disturbance responsible for the cloud cover into southern California. Off shore, there are a few bands of high clouds, but they are the thin cirrus variety and will have no impact on temperatures tonight.
Models continue to show the off shore high shifting inland for the remainder of the week. The descending motion of the air will definitely cap the valley with a strong warm air inversion. Daytime temperatures will run well above average while overnight lows will continue to be cold.
Models which had been suggesting a minimal chance of showers around New Year’s have now shifted to more of a dry scenario as the high eats up potential storm systems. If models verify, it will continue to be dry through at least the fifth of the new year.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Friday with occasional high clouds and a few patches of night and morning fog. Mostly clear skies will continue Friday night through Tuesday of next week with patchy morning fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 28/63/28/63 | Reedley 27/62/28/63 | Dinuba 27/62/28/62 | |
| Porterville 28/64/28/63 | Lindsay 27/64/28/64 | Delano 30/65/30/64 | |
| Bakersfield 35/63/35/64 | Arvin 29/65/29/64 | Taft 39/64/39/63 | |
| Lamont 27/64/28/65 | Pixley 28/63/28/64 | Tulare 27/62/28/63 | |
| Woodlake 28/63/28/64 | Hanford 28/63/29/64 | Orosi 27/63/28/64 | |
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 10 MPH through Saturday with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next seven to ten days.
Frost Information: All the high clouds that were above the valley this morning have moved into southern California. There are a few bands of high clouds moving southeastward over the northern California coast, but they’ll have no impact on the radiational cooling process tonight. Even though many locations this afternoon have shot up into the mid 60s, dew points are pretty much unchanged with a dry air mass in the lower level of the atmosphere. This will keep the situation such that nights will be frosty and days will be mild right through the first part of January.
For tonight, the coldest locations should drop to 26 to 27 or so with many other locations from 28 to 30. I wouldn’t be surprised if a river bottom or two dropped into the mid 20s.
The inversion tonight will continue to be strong with temperatures at 34 feet anywhere from 4 to 8 degrees warmer.
Looking ahead to Thursday through New Year’s Day, a big blocking ridge of upper level high pressure will keep the valley capped with very hazy conditions. Barring any surprises, skies will remain relatively clear which means mild afternoons and sub freezing weather at most frost stations.
The longer range outlook indicates high pressure will block any potential storms. As long as we’re stuck with this dry air mass, the same basic theme will prevail through the first week in January. Even the two week outlook is now indicating central California will have above average daytime temps with little to no chance of precipitation.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
27 |
Porterville
28 |
Ivanhoe
28 |
Woodlake
28 |
| Strathmore
27 |
McFarland
26 |
Ducor
29 |
Tea Pot Dome
28 |
| Lindsay
27 |
Exeter
27 |
Famoso
29 |
Madera
28 |
| Belridge
28 |
Delano
29 |
North Bakersfield
29 |
Orosi
27 |
| Orange Cove
28 |
Lindcove
27 |
Lindcove Hillside
AF |
Sanger River Bottom
25 |
| Root Creek
27 |
Venice Hill
28 |
Rosedale
29 |
Jasmine
28 |
| Arvin
28 |
Lamont
27 |
Plainview
28 |
Mettler
31 |
| Edison
30 |
Maricopa
27 |
Holland Creek
30 |
Tivy Valley
27 |
| Kite Road South
31 |
Kite Road North
28 |
Next Report: Wednesday morning, December 27