March 9, 2018
Summary: A huge mass of subtropical cloud cover is advancing toward the California coast from the southwest. A low pressure system is embedded within this flow and will reach the central coast early Saturday morning. Clouds will increase Saturday, leading to a chance of rain during the afternoon. Rain will be likely Saturday night, turning more showery Sunday with a chance of showers Sunday night.
By the time we get into Monday and Tuesday, a weak ridge will be building overhead. Even so, as weak waves of low pressure move over the ridge, at least a slight chance of showers is possible for Monday and Tuesday, as well.
Monday through Friday’s weather will be heavily influenced by a low pressure system which will initially be off the northern California coast. Bands of showers will rotate around the bottom side of the low and into central California from time to time beginning Tuesday night. By early Wednesday, the center of circulation is calculated by some models to be just off the central coast and moving very slowly southward parallel to the coast. By the weekend, the low will make its move through southern California, ending the chance of precipitation. All in all, this should turn out to be a wet seven day period.
The two week model which goes out from the sixteenth through the twenty second is also indicating there’s a good chance of above average precipitation.
Forecast: Mostly clear with occasional high clouds this morning. Increasing cloudiness tonight with a chance of sprinkles. Showers likely Saturday, especially during the second half of the day. Showers likely Saturday night and Sunday with a diminishing chance of showers Sunday night. Partly cloudy Monday through Tuesday with a slight chance of showers. Expect periods of rain Wednesday through Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 72/50/67/52/73 | Reedley 74/50/68/51/71 | Dinuba 73/51/48/73 | |
| Porterville 75/49/68/50/73 | Lindsay 74/49/68/49/73 | Delano 75/52/68/51/73 | |
| Bakersfield 75/53/70/53/75 | Arvin 75/49/70/50/75 | Taft 73/52/70/53/74 | |
| Lamont 74/50/68/51/75 | Pixley 74/50/68/50/73 | Tulare 73/49/67/50/72 | |
| Woodlake 73/49/68/50/72 | Hanford 74/50/68/50/72 | Orosi 73/49/67/50/72 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Monday
Small chance of showers 55/70 |
Tuesday
Small chance of showers 55/71 |
Wednesday
Rain likely 50/70 |
Thursday
Rain likely 48/66 |
Friday
Showers likely 45/65 |
Two Week Outlook: March 16 through March 22: Once again, the two week model is pointing to below average temperatures. One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that this model indicates the possibility of above average precipitation during this time frame.
March: Not much encouragement as far as rainfall is concerned as this model is indicating below average precipitation, especially over the second half of the month. So far, this model predicts near average temperatures.
March, April, May: The ninety-day outlook doesn’t exactly make one happy if rain is the desired outcome. It does show a better than average chance of above average temperatures, mainly due to high pressure off shore, and below average precipitation.
Winds: Winds will be less than 12 MPH through Sunday with periods of near calm conditions, especially nights and early mornings.
Rain: There will be a chance of sprinkles tonight, but really nothing more. The chance of rain will increase Saturday, especially deeper into the day. Rain can be expected at times Saturday night, turning showery Sunday. A chance of showers Sunday night.
A massive area of tropical cloud cover blankets the eastern Pacific and is approaching the central and southern California coasts. This storm has the potential of producing significant rain over the valley and heavy rain over the mountain regions. For now, it appears rainfall amounts will range between .35 and .75 with the lightest amounts in Kern County.
A new low will slowly move down the coast Wednesday through Friday of next week with a chance of another round of significant weather with good rainfall totals. For now, next weekend appears dry, but if models are correct, the following week will also present a better than even chance of rain on and off through the period.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight and each night for the foreseeable future.
Lows Tonight:
All locations will be above freezing.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid 30s to the lower 40s. Kern: Low to mid 30s
Humidity: Visalia: 30%/95% Bakersfield: 20%/65%
Actual Humidity March 7, 2018: Delano, 84%/21%, Porterville, 90%/30%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 40% 50% tomorrow Bakersfield: Today: 40% Tomorrow: 40%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days March 7, 2018: Stratford .68, Parlier .51, Blackwell .69 Lindcove .52, Arvin .55, Orange Cove .55, Porterville .52, Delano .56, Madera Two .61. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 52, Parlier 52, Blackwell 54, Lindcove, 54, Arvin, 54, Orange Cove 50, Porterville 53, Delano 52, Madera Two 52
Record Temperatures: 84/29. Average Temperatures: 66/43
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1763, -470 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for February so far, 51.4 -2.05
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 3.22 season. or -4.97. Month to Date: 1.32
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 1.57, or -3.09, Month to Date: .25
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 952, Parlier, 977, Arvin, 851, Shafter, 1007, Stratford, 965, Madera two, 1480, Lindcove, 1105, Porterville, 1433. Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:18 am Sunset: 6:01 pm. Hours of Daylight: 11:40
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 74 / 42 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 76 / 46 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 75 / 38 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 77 / 37 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 78 / 47 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 73 / 42 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1543 / 74 / 45 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 75 / 41 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1552 / 75 / 52 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 76 / 49 / 0.00 /
Rainfall Totals:
STOCKTON T 5.60 53 17.89 168 10.65 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 4.45 46 14.09 145 9.70 13.11
MERCED 0.00 3.82 42 13.51 148 9.15 12.50
MADERA 0.00 3.29 37 13.19 146 9.01 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 3.22 39 12.87 156 8.26 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 2.52 34 9.21 123 7.50 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 1.57 33 7.29 155 4.70 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 0.20 5 7.81 211 3.70 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 3.56 37 14.79 153 9.66 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 4.09 42 14.63 150 9.78 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 2.53 24 16.22 153 10.60 13.95
Next Report: Friday, March 9/pm