March 26, 2018
Summary: Skies are clear and temperatures are chilly this morning with most locations in the mid 30s to the lower 40s. Sanger, as of 6:00am, was reporting 32 degrees and was the coldest I could find. The low pressure system has now moved into Arizona while a ridge continues to build off shore. This will temporarily put us under a northerly flow aloft, resulting in temperatures that are somewhat below average today but rapid warming will occur beginning Tuesday as that off shore ridge builds inland. The freezing level overnight was 5,500 feet. It will rise exponentially as we progress through the work week.
A weak weather system will move into the Pacific Northwest, clipping northern California, about Sunday or Monday. For now it appears the only ramification for the valley will be a minor cooling trend. Medium range models continue to point to dry weather under a big ridge with temperatures remaining above seasonal values.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Saturday night. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Sunday through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 63/35/70/40/76 | Reedley 63/36/70/42/76 | Dinuba 62/36/69/42/75 | |
| Porterville 64/36/70/43/77 | Lindsay 64/35/69/42/76 | Delano 64/38/71/43/77 | |
| Bakersfield 63/41/71/49/78 | Arvin 63/41/72/45/78 | Taft 64/45/72/50/77 | |
| Lamont 63/40/71/45/77 | Pixley 64/36/70/42/76 | Tulare 62/35/70/41/76 | |
| Woodlake 64/36/69/43/75 | Hanford 63/37/69/43/76 | Orosi 63/35/70/42/75 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 47/78 |
Friday
Mostly clear 49/78 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 51/81 |
Sunday
Partly cloudy 53/77 |
Monday
Partly cloudy 51/73 |
Two Week Outlook: April 1 through April 7: This model is persistent in showing a strong ridge of upper level high pressure building over and off the west coast. This is a dry pattern. Temperatures under this regime will range above seasonal values.
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 generally less than 12 MPH later mornings and afternoons and less than 7 MPH with periods of near calm conditions nights and early mornings through Thursday.
Rain: Expect dry weather for at least the next week to ten days.
Frost: The coldest temperature I could find this morning was 32 degrees at Sanger. All other locations were in the mid to upper 30s except in Kern County where some locations only dipped into the lower 40s. all locations will be above 32 degrees tonight but isolated low lying pockets could approach 32 degrees towards sunrise. For Wednesday and beyond, expect all locations to be above freezing. Even the medium range outlook going out through next week are maintaining above average temperatures for the valley so no chance of frost for the foreseeable future.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 30s. Kern: Mid to upper 30s.
Humidity: Visalia: 35%/95% Bakersfield: 30%/80%
Actual Humidity March 24, 2018: Delano, 91%/33%, Porterville, 96%/46%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 80% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days March 24, 2018: Stratford .64, Parlier .57, Blackwell .61 Lindcove .49, Arvin .66, Orange Cove .58, Porterville .54, Delano .62, Madera Two .58. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 57, Parlier 57, Blackwell 58, Lindcove, 59, Arvin, 62, Orange Cove 55, Porterville 58, Delano 58, Madera Two 56
Record Temperatures: 85/32. Average Temperatures: 69/44
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1914, -482 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for March so far, 54.5 -0.5
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.09 season. or -3.25. Month to Date: 4.19
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.73, or -1.61, Month to Date: 2.41
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Shafter, Stratford, Madera two, Lindcove, Porterville, Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:53 am Sunset: 7:16 pm. Hours of Daylight: 12:18
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 60 / 38 / T /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 61 / 43 / 0.01 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 62 / 42 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 63 / 40 / T /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 61 / 46 / T /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 61 / 42 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1654 / 59 / 36 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 60 / 45 / T /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1652 / 62 / 39 / 0.00 /
Rainfall Totals:
STOCKTON 0.00 7.37 62 19.79 167 11.83 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 5.78 53 15.29 141 10.82 13.11
MERCED 0.00 5.48 54 14.52 142 10.20 12.50
MADERA 0.00 6.51 66 13.69 139 9.84 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.09 65 13.53 144 9.40 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.41 53 9.58 116 8.29 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.73 69 7.41 138 5.38 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 0.82 21 7.89 198 3.98 5.18
SALINAS 0.05 5.29 48 15.49 142 10.92 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.42 84 15.01 134 11.17 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 5.60 47 16.91 140 12.04 13.95
Next Report: Monday, March 26/pm