February 21, 2018
Frost Update: There is a wide variety of temperatures out there this evening, ranging from the upper 20s to the upper 30s. this leads me to believe that there is some mixing going on out there. As of 9:45, some of the colder examples are: Sanger 31, Navalencia 31, Fowler 29, Stone Corral 29, Lindcove 30, Exeter 30, west Porterville 32. Most other locations range from 33 to 37. I noticed dew points seem to be all over the place, too, ranging from the upper teens to the upper 20s. That also supports my theory that mixing is taking place above the valley floor, no doubt due to a rapidly approaching low pressure system currently centered over eastern Washington.
There are some high clouds over parts of northern California but they’re scattered and appear fairly thin. In all likelihood they will not have an impact this evening.
Temperatures will no doubt end up with much more variability than the past two nights. With temperatures already approaching 28 degrees in the coldest locations, durations in river bottom and similar low spots will be over 9 hours. Locations in the low to mid 30s at this hour will have much shorter durations. Overall, it appears on the average tonight may turn out to be a tad milder than the past two nights, thank heavens.
The next challenge will be the storm system to our north which, as usual, is starved for moisture. Clouds will begin increasing Thursday with a rapidly moving cold front moving down the valley Thursday night. The air associated with this system is also very cold with the possibility of snow down to 1,000 to 2,000 feet.
Friday morning’s outcome will largely be determined by how soon the clouds associated with that system exit the premises. There could be anything from mid to upper 20s to low to mid 30s. The northerly flow will continue into Saturday, so depending on where dew points end up Saturday morning will likely range in the mid 20s to the lower 30s. This is unless the dominant northerly flow aloft turns northwesterly. The latter scenario would result in a milder outcome.
We’ll get into the longer range outlook in the Thursday morning report.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
26 |
Porterville
26 |
Ivanhoe
26 |
Woodlake
27 |
| Strathmore
27 |
McFarland
28 |
Ducor
28 |
Tea Pot Dome
27 |
| Lindsay
26 |
Exeter
26 |
Famoso
28 |
Madera
26 |
| Belridge
27 |
Delano
28 |
North Bakersfield
28 |
Orosi
27 |
| Orange Cove
26 |
Lindcove
25 |
Lindcove Hillside
32 |
Sanger River Bottom
23 |
| Root Creek
26 |
Venice Hill
27 |
Rosedale
29 |
Jasmine
27 |
| Arvin
29 |
Lamont
29 |
Plainview
27 |
Mettler
30 |
| Edison
28 |
Maricopa
30 |
Holland Creek
30 |
Tivy Valley
27 |
| Kite Road South
30 |
Kite Road North
28 |
Next report: Approximately 10:00am Thursday