January 7, 2018
Summary: Warmest locations will again hit or exceed the 70 degree mark by the time this day is done. A southerly flow was certainly evident earlier today as the low clouds of this morning were moving northwestward by this afternoon. Skies will be partly cloudy before midnight then will begin to increase and lower late tonight and early Monday morning. By late morning, precipitation will be widespread in at least some areas but along the west side and in Kern County, very strong gusty winds will generate strong rain shadows. Those rain shadows will really zap precipitation totals until at least the cold front moves through sometime Monday night.
A very complex weather scenario is taking shape over the eastern Pacific Ocean. The first low pressure system is chugging northeastward towards the northern and central California coast while a colder low is shifting southeastward from the Gulf of Alaska. As these two storms merge, it will set the stage for locally heavy rain in the valley, mainly along the east side, and very strong winds, especially along the west side and, as per usual, Kern County.
As these various lows begin to shift eastward Tuesday, the rain will taper off into showers with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms late Tuesday morning and during the afternoon. Locally heavy rain is possible with these storms along with the possibility of small hail and localized gusty winds.
All the action should be over by sunrise Wednesday as the main low will shift into Nevada then zip eastward from there. Upper level high pressure will begin to build Thursday and will dominate the pattern for the remainder of the week and possibly well into next week. Increasing fog and low clouds can be expected as early as Thursday morning and will only increase as each day goes by.
Forecast: Increasing clouds tonight. Rain possible by sunrise. Rain likely Monday and Monday night, locally heavy at times along the east side. Rain will turn to showers Tuesday with a chance of isolated thunderstorms from late morning Tuesday through the afternoon. Showers tapering off Tuesday night, becoming mostly to partly cloudy Wednesday. Lingering clouds may exist in Kern and Tulare counties into Thursday then skies will become mostly clear with increasing amounts of night and morning fog beginning Thursday morning and through Sunday.
Short Term:
Madera 54/63/52/59 | Reedley 54/63/52/60 | Dinuba 54/61/52/60 | |
Porterville 53/64/53/61 | Lindsay 53/64/53/61 | Delano 54/64/52/61 | |
Bakersfield 55/70/51/62 | Arvin 55/71/53/61 | Taft 56/69/53/62 | |
Lamont 54/70/52/62 | Pixley 53/67/53/61 | Tulare 53/62/51/60 | |
Woodlake 53/62/52/61 | Hanford 54/62/52/60 | Orosi 53/62/52/59 |
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 15 MPH tonight and mainly out of the southeast. Later Monday morning, winds will become out of the south to southeast at 20 to 40 MPH along the west side with possible higher gusts. Winds of 15 to 25 MPH along the east side with stronger gusts. Kern County is of most concern as winds will increase to 20 to 40 MPH with local gusts to 50 MPH from Bakersfield north. Winds will only increase further south. Right below the Tehachapis, winds of 40 to 60 MPH are possible with gusts to 75. These winds will decrease Tuesday morning as the cold front moves through with winds becoming out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts, continuing Tuesday night. winds Wednesday and Thursday will generally be in the 8 to 15 MPH range, decreasing during the day Thursday.
Rain: There is a chance of rain before sunrise tomorrow. Rain will increase in coverage and intensity Monday with locally heavy amounts along the east side. Blockbuster winter storms typically generate blockbuster rain shadows and much less precipitation is expected along the west side and more especially in Kern County where the winds may get mighty wild. Rain, heavy at times, will continue Monday night then begin to taper off later Tuesday after the cold front moves through. There will be a chance of thunderstorms from late morning Tuesday through the afternoon. Possible small hail could fall where thunderstorms occur. Showers will continue Tuesday night, tapering off later in the night with dry conditions returning Wednesday with a continued dry pattern through the remainder of the week and well into the next week.
Frost Information: Above freezing conditions will continue indefinitely
Lows Tonight:
All locations will be above freezing tonight.
Next Report: Monday morning, January 8