February 3, 2018
Summary: The fog this morning is in the usual suspect areas, generally parallel to Highway 99 and up the center of the valley while other areas remain clear but hazy. On satellite imagery, the strong upper high is clearly depicted off shore and into the Pacific Northwest then down into the Great Basin. With a warm bubble of subsiding air moving downward toward the earth, haze and whatever else is in the air will remain.
On the other hand, this same high will result in delightful afternoon temperatures as readings move well into the 70s.
A weak low will slide into the Great Basin Tuesday which may weaken the high marginally. Even so, temperatures in the warmer locations will still top the 70 degree mark. The blocking ridge will build far to the north next week with possibly another low diving southward into northern Nevada by Friday night and southern California Saturday. Even if this does occur, no precipitation will be expected with the possible exception of the high Sierra. Theoretically, temperatures would cool over the weekend, possibly breaking up the inversion. Other models, however, show the blocking high remaining firm right through the middle of February for dry weather and well above average temperatures.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Wednesday with areas of late night and morning fog, mainly up the center of the valley north of Kern County and continued hazy. Mostly clear skies Wednesday night through Friday. becoming partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday.
Short Term:
Madera 72/41/71/42/70 | Reedley 73/42/71/42/70 | Dinuba 71/40/70/42/69 | |
Porterville 74/40/72/41/70 | Lindsay 73/39/71/40/70 | Delano 74/43/72/43/71 | |
Bakersfield 75/48/75/48/72 | Arvin 75/43/74/42/72 | Taft 74/52/74/51/71 | |
Lamont 75/44/73/44/72 | Pixley 73/41/73/41/71 | Tulare 72/40/72/41/69 | |
Woodlake 73/43/73/42/71 | Hanford 73/42/71/42/70 | Orosi 73/40/71/41/69 |
Seven Day Forecast:
Tuesday
AM fog/PM sun 43/68 |
Wednesday
AM fog/PM sun 41/70 |
Thursday
AM fog/PM sun 43/72 |
Friday
AM fog/PM sun 44/72 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 42/67 |
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 Tuesday 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: Upper 40s to the mid 50s. Upper 40s to the mid 50s.
Humidity: Visalia, 50%/100% Bakersfield, 45/90%
Actual Humidity February 1, 2018: Delano, 90%/45%. Porterville, 97%/48%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today 80% tomorrow 80%, Bakersfield: Today 100% tomorrow 100%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days February 1, 2018: Stratford .46, Parlier .42, Blackwell .46 Lindcove .45, Arvin .46, Orange Cove .51, Porterville .41, Delano .42., Madera Two .42. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 51, Parlier 53, Blackwell 54, Lindcove, 56, Arvin, 53, Orange Cove 50, Porterville 52, Delano 51, Madera Two 52
7.2
Record Temperatures: 74/26. Average Temperatures: 58/37
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1302, -459 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for February so far, 54.0 +6.0
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 1.64 season. or -4.09. Month to Date: .00
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 1.10, or -2.06, Month to Date: .00
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 695, Parlier, 722, Arvin, 677, Shafter, 789, Stratford, 716, Madera two, 1151, Lindcove, 850, Porterville, 1127. Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:59 am Sunset: 5:27 pm. Hours of Daylight: 10:25
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 70 / 43 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 71 / 46 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 71 / 39 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 70 / 39 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 73 / 47 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 69 / 42 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1556 / 69 / 42 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 72 / 41 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1555 / 71 / 50 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 70 / 44 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Season % Last y. % Ave. Annual Ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 3.99 52 12.64 165 7.66 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 3.55 52 10.77 157 6.87 13.11
MERCED 0.00 2.29 37 10.00 160 6.24 12.50
MADERA 0.00 1.55 25 9.36 149 6.28 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 1.64 28 10.10 174 5.81 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 1.78 34 6.35 121 5.25 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 1.10 34 5.79 180 3.21 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 0.20 7 5.59 205 2.73 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 2.51 38 10.09 151 6.69 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 2.30 35 10.95 166 6.59 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 2.02 29 10.80 154 7.00 13.95
Next Report: Saturday, February 3/pm