January 30, 2018
Summary: There are areas of dense fog out there this morning, mainly north of Kern County and up the center of the valley. At last report, both Visalia and Hanford were down to ¼ mile visibility. There is also a great deal of mid and high level clouds overhead, however satellite imagery shows the northern limit of these clouds has reached as far south as Merced County with generally clear skies north of that line. These clouds will move south of the area later today with abundant sunshine and just occasional high clouds this afternoon and Wednesday. Another area of high clouds will move overhead later Wednesday night and Thursday as a weather system moves through the Pacific Northwest.
The overall pattern remains the same. Strong upper level high pressure is over and off the west coast. The freezing level taken last night was 13, 300 feet, which is very high for this time of year. The ridge itself will continue to build to the north through the weekend and will be an effective blockade, preventing storms from moving anywhere near California. This will result in a prolonged period of a broken record forecast as temperatures will reman well above average with occasional high clouds and areas of dense fog, mainly north of Kern County and up the center of the valley each morning.
Forecast: Variable high clouds this morning. Mostly clear this afternoon through Wednesday with areas of fog Wednesday morning, mainly north of Kern County. Partly cloudy late Wednesday night and Thursday. Mostly clear Thursday night through Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 65/38/65/39/65 | Reedley 65/38/64/40/66 | Dinuba 64/37/64/39/66 | |
| Porterville 67/38/68/39/66 | Lindsay 67/38/67/40/67 | Delano 68/41/67/42/68 | |
| Bakersfield 70/44/68/46/68 | Arvin 72/41/68/41/68 | Taft 70/48/68/44/68 | |
| Lamont 71/41/66/40/67 | Pixley 67/39/66/39/67 | Tulare 65/37/65/39/66 | |
| Woodlake 66/38/64/40/67 | Hanford 65/39/66/40/66 | Orosi 65/37/65/38/66 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Friday
AM fog/PM sun 40/68 |
Saturday
AM fog/PM sun 41/70 |
Sunday
AM fog/PM sun 42/71 |
Monday
AM fog/PM sun 43/71 |
Tuesday
AM fog/PM sun 42/72 |
Two Week Outlook: February 7 through February 13: This model now indicates a blocking ridge of upper level high pressure will be over and off the west coast. This pattern would drive the storm track well north. Temperatures would rise to marginally above average values, assuming the fog doesn’t take over, with very little chance of precipitation.
February: This model doesn’t really grasp at any particular pattern through the month. In fact, central California, if you believe this model, should have temperatures close to seasonal values with near average precipitation, as well.
February, March, April: This model goes all the way through April and it is calling for a ridge of upper level high pressure off the southern California coast to be the most dominant, but not the only, feature during the spring months. If this model has any credence at all, temperatures should be marginally above average with below average precipitation.
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 10 MPH through Thursday with near calm conditions nights and mornings.
Rain: Expect dry weather for the next week and possibly ten days.
Frost: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight and each night for the remainder of the week.
Lows Tonight:
All locations will be above freezing tonight.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity, Visalia, 60%/100% Bakersfield, 45/85%
Actual Humidity January 28, 2018: Porterville, 98%/46%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today 70% tomorrow 90%, Bakersfield: Today 60% tomorrow 90%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days January 28, 2018: Stratford .45, Parlier .44, Blackwell, .NA Lindcove .43, Arvin .40, Orange Cove .52, Porterville .41, Delano .38., Madera Two .35. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 51, Parlier 50, Blackwell 55, Lindcove, 54, Arvin, 50, Orange Cove 48, Porterville 49, Delano 48, Madera Two 51
7.2
Record Temperatures: 73/24. Average Temperatures: 57/37
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1254, -436 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for January so far, 51.0 +5.9
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 1.64 season. or -3.80. Month to Date: 1.23
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 1.10, or -1.89, Month to Date: 1.03
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 662, Parlier, 689, Arvin, 651, Shafter, 758, Stratford, 681, Madera two, 1100, Lindcove, 814, Porterville, 1073. Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 7:02 am Sunset: 5:22 pm. Hours of Daylight: 10:17
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 65 / 37 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 65 / 40 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 63 / 36 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 64 / 34 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 66 / 40 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 64 / 37 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1555 / 68 / 38 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 67 / 36 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1555 / 64 / 44 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 61 / 41 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Season % Last y. % Ave. Annual Ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 3.99 55 12.49 172 7.28 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 3.55 55 10.55 162 6.51 13.11
MERCED 0.00 2.29 38 9.84 164 6.01 12.50
MADERA 0.00 1.55 25 9.24 152 6.08 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 1.64 30 10.06 183 5.51 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 1.78 35 6.24 123 5.09 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 1.10 36 5.79 191 3.03 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 0.20 8 5.59 213 2.62 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 2.51 40 9.86 156 6.33 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 2.30 37 10.59 170 6.22 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 2.02 31 10.64 161 6.60 13.95
Next Report: Tuesday afternoon, January 30