January 31, 2018
Summary: There is a considerable amount of dense fog this morning extending from near the Kern County line northward up the center of the valley to Merced County. Above the fog, skies are generally clear with just a few high, thin clouds. The fog will burn off during the late morning and early afternoon hours but hazy conditions will prevail as the descending nature of the air mass traps particulate matter near the surface.
Upper level high pressure remains off shore and over about the western ¼ of the U.S. One low pressure system is riding over the top of the high and into Washington and northern Oregon. Another similar system will follow tonight and Thursday. We will see another round of high clouds tonight and during the day Thursday but in all likelihood these clouds won’t be dense enough to have much impact on temperatures, though they may moderate overnight lows slightly.
A huge ridge will build northward over and off the west coast beginning Friday with the northern sector of the ridge moving into western Canada. These will keep temperatures well above average and will also be favorable for areas of night and morning fog each day with hazy afternoons.
The new two week model is still not encouraging. It shows the blocking ridge remaining off shore and over the western 1/3 of the United States. If this model really holds water, dry weather will continue through the middle of the month.
Forecast: Widespread fog north of Kern County and up the center of the valley this morning with mostly clear skies elsewhere. Mostly clear and hazy this afternoon. Areas of fog will redevelop later tonight and Thursday morning, mainly in the same areas with hazy afternoon sunshine. Periods of high clouds will begin to show up Thursday and Thursday night with mostly clear skies Friday through Wednesday and areas of fog up the center of the valley mainly north of Kern County continuing each morning.
Short Term:
| Madera 64/37/64/38/64 | Reedley 63/37/64/38/64 | Dinuba 63/37/63/38/64 | |
| Porterville 66/36/66/38/67 | Lindsay 65/34/66/35/65 | Delano 66/39/67/40/68 | |
| Bakersfield 68/44/68/45/69 | Arvin 69/40/70/41/70 | Taft 67/48/68/49/68 | |
| Lamont 68/42/68/43/69 | Pixley 66/37/67/39/67 | Tulare 64/38/64/38/65 | |
| Woodlake 65/37/65/39/65 | Hanford 65/38/65/39/66 | Orosi 65/36/63/37/64 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
AM fog/PM sun 40/71 |
Sunday
AM fog/PM sun 41/71 |
Monday
AM fog/PM sun 42/70 |
Tuesday
AM fog/PM sun 40/71 |
Wednesday
AM fog/PM sun 42/72 |
Two Week Outlook: February 9 through February 15: 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 Friday 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, 50/90%
Actual Humidity January 29, 2018: Porterville, 97%/40%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today 70% tomorrow 70%, Bakersfield: Today 90% tomorrow 70%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days January 29, 2018: Stratford .43, Parlier .44, Blackwell, .NA Lindcove .43, Arvin .39, Orange Cove .51, Porterville .41, Delano .38., Madera Two .36. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 51, Parlier 51, Blackwell 55, Lindcove, 54, Arvin, 50, Orange Cove 48, Porterville 50, Delano 48, Madera Two 50
7.2
Record Temperatures: 74/25. Average Temperatures: 58/37
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1269, -439 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for January so far, 50.9 +5.8
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 1.64 season. or -3.87. 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, 671, Parlier, 698, Arvin, 659, Shafter, 767, Stratford, 690, Madera two, 1112, Lindcove, 823, Porterville, 1087. Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 7:02 am Sunset: 5:23 pm. Hours of Daylight: 10:18
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 68 / 41 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 69 / 44 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 69 / 39 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 67 / 40 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 70 / 44 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 66 / 38 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / 49 / 41 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 69 / 40 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DHM / 53 / 48 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 66 / 42 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Season % Last y. % Ave. Annual Ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 3.99 54 12.49 169 7.37 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 3.55 54 10.55 160 6.60 13.11
MERCED 0.00 2.29 38 9.84 162 6.07 12.50
MADERA 0.00 1.55 25 9.24 151 6.13 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 1.64 29 10.06 180 5.58 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 1.78 35 6.24 122 5.13 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 1.10 36 5.79 188 3.08 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 0.20 8 5.59 212 2.64 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 2.51 39 9.86 154 6.42 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 2.30 36 10.59 168 6.32 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 2.02 30 10.64 159 6.70 13.95
Next Report: Wednesday afternoon, January 31