March 22, 2018
Summary: This massive storm system has in every way, shape, and form lived up to its billing put out earlier this week. Tamarack Ridge has received more than six inches of rain over just the past 24 hours. Wishon Dam has recorded 5.75 during the same period with many other locations reporting between three and five inches, again over the past 24 hours. On the valley floor, we pegged it just right as rainfall amounts have ranged from one to two inches with more than one inch totals even in Kern County. This storm is not over yet even though the atmospheric river of air is now moving into the Sierra Nevada and southeastward into southern California. Colder and more unstable air is also moving in. A line of thunderstorms has developed over Merced County which is probably from the leading edge of a colder air mass which has been lurking off shore.
As more daytime heating occurs, locally heavy thunderstorms could break out just about anywhere this afternoon into the evening hours. Scattered showers will continue through about midnight then will begin to taper off with dry weather Friday through Friday night. The main low center from this storm will move southeastward from its current position off the Oregon coast through northern and central California Saturday and Saturday night. There is a chance of light showers during this time frame with a slight chance of a few showers Sunday. The low will eventually move over southern California by Tuesday and over Arizona Wednesday.
Wednesday is when a rapid warming trend will begin. Some models actually show us pushing the 80 degree mark by Friday of next week with dry weather continuing into the following week.
Forecast: Scattered showers this afternoon through about midnight tonight. Heavy thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon into the evening hours. A chance of a few showers after midnight then mostly to partly cloudy Friday and Friday night. Variable cloudiness Saturday through Sunday with a chance of light showers mainly north of Kern County Saturday into early Sunday. Partly cloudy Sunday afternoon. Becoming mostly clear Sunday night through Thursday with a warming trend.
Short Term:
| Madera 45/62/39/63 | Reedley 44/63/39/63 | Dinuba 43/62/38/63 | |
| Porterville 44/62/39/64 | Lindsay 44/63/37/62 | Delano 46/62/42/64 | |
| Bakersfield 46/63/43/64 | Arvin 47/62/42/64 | Taft 48/63/45/64 | |
| Lamont 45/62/41/64 | Pixley 44/63/41/64 | Tulare 43/62/38/63 | |
| Woodlake 44/63/39/63 | Hanford 45/63/39/63 | Orosi 45/62/38/63 | |
Winds: Winds will be out of the southeast at 15 to 25 MPH at times from Fresno County northward and 10 to 20 MPH elsewhere. Winds later tonight through Friday will be out of the northwest at 10 to 15 MPH, diminishing Friday night. Winds Saturday through Sunday will be generally out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH.
Rain: the main atmospheric river of air has now moved eastward into the Sierra Nevada and is now battering southern California. Colder air will progressively move in aloft as the afternoon wears on. There’s already a squall line with embedded thunderstorms up in Merced County with the possibility of heavy thunderstorms developing just about anywhere for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Showers will continue until about midnight with only a slight chance of showers later tonight. Friday and Friday night will be dry then low pressure will move southeastward through northern and central California Saturday into Sunday for a chance of light showers. This event will be no big deal, though. Dry weather should return by midday Sunday and continue through all of next week and possibly the following week.
Frost: Models seem to be on track for widespread mid to upper 30s Monday and Tuesday mornings with possibly a few cold spots in the lower 30s. No significant cold weather event is expected. We could see temperatures in the upper 30s as early as Sunday morning, but Monday and Tuesday appear to be the coldest as a northerly flow aloft develops. From Wednesday on, a rapid warming trend will occur. In fact, temperatures may be approaching the 80 degree mark by next Friday.
Lows Tonight: All locations will be above 32.
Next report: Friday, March 23