April 9, 2018
Summary: Temperatures this morning are running anywhere from 5 to 10 degrees higher than 24 hours ago. High pressure at the upper levels of the atmosphere is moving in from the eastern Pacific ahead of a weak frontal system several hundred miles off shore. The combination of warming air aloft and a weak southerly flow moving up the valley will drive temperatures into the mid to upper 80s Tuesday and perhaps a few 90 degree readings could be recorded in Kern County as a bit of down slope warming occurs off the Tehachapi Mountains. A weak cold front will move through Tuesday night and Wednesday with little fanfare other than to lower temperatures several degrees. More importantly, by Thursday a rapidly moving, somewhat stronger cold front will move through with much cooler temperatures along with gusty northwesterly winds as pressures rapidly fall over the interior west and rise off shore. There is a small chance of light showers Thursday, mainly from Fresno County northward, however models show a strong rain shadow developing along the west side, so measurable rain may be confined to mainly Madera and Fresno Counties with a slight chance in Tulare County.
A new high will build in from the eastern Pacific Friday through Sunday for the next significant warming trend as the seasons battle each other for dominance. A new low center will move inland to our north early next week, driving yet another dry cold front down the valley for at least a moderate cooling trend. After Monday, models are inconsistent but for now no significant chance of precipitation is seen although the two week model is suggesting a better than even chance of rain after the 16th with cooler than average temperatures.
Forecast: Other than some high, thin clouds at times today, it will be mostly clear through tonight. Variable cloudiness Tuesday through Wednesday night. Mostly cloudy Thursday and Thursday night with a slight chance of showers from mainly Fresno County northward. Becoming mostly clear Friday through Sunday night. Partly cloudy Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 81/51/86/53/77 | Reedley 82/52/87/53/78 | Dinuba 80/51/85/53/76 | |
| Porterville 82/52/87/54/79 | Lindsay 83/52/87/54/79 | Delano 83/55/87/54/79 | |
| Bakersfield 83/61/90/57/78 | Arvin 83/57/91/57/80 | Taft 83/62/89/58/79 | |
| Lamont 83/57/90/57/80 | Pixley 82/53/87/53/79 | Tulare 81/52/86/53/78 | |
| Woodlake 81/51/86/53/78 | Hanford 82/55/87/54/78 | Orosi 81/52/85/53/78 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Slight chance of showers 46/63 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 40/71 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 44/80 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 52/84 |
Monday
Partly cloudy 49/76 |
Two Week Outlook: April 16 through April 22: This model is indicating a possibility of a colder trough of low pressure sinking southward from the Gulf of Alaska and possibly affecting northern and central California for a better than even chance of precipitation. It also appears we will revert to a pattern which should bring temperatures to somewhat below average for a change.
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 at or less than 12 MPH through Wednesday with periods of near calm conditions, mainly during the night and morning hours. Winds late Wednesday night and Thursday will increase out of the northwest at 15 to 25 MPH with stronger gusts possible, mainly along the west side.
Rain: It appears our best chance of light rain, small as it may be, will occur Thursday and possibly Thursday night. A fast moving cold front associated with a low pressure system moving through the Pacific Northwest will spread showers down the Sierra Nevada Thursday, however models are indicating a strong rain shadow will develop along the west side and will encompass most of the valley, reducing the chance of showers and possible amounts of precipitation. The greatest possibility of light showers will be in Madera County and the eastern half of Fresno County with a slight chance in Tulare County. After Thursday, dry weather will commence under high pressure. A dry cold front will move through Monday with little fanfare. From the middle of next week on, the forecast is a bit shaky due to model differences. At this point, we’ll keep the forecast dry.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 40s to the lower 50s. Kern: Upper 40s to the lower 50s.
Humidity: Visalia: 30%/90% Bakersfield: 30%/75%
Actual Humidity April 7, 2018: Delano, 88%/60%, Porterville, 97%/66%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 50% Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 60%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days April 7, 2018: Stratford 1.30, Parlier 1.02, Blackwell 1.19 Lindcove .96, Arvin 1.16, Orange Cove 1.05, Porterville 1.04, Delano 1.06, Madera Two .96. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 62, Parlier 66, Blackwell 66, Lindcove, 63, Arvin, 65, Orange Cove 63, Porterville 66, Delano 68, Madera Two 62
Record Temperatures: 95/35. Average Temperatures: 72/46
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 17 +11 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for April so far, 65.8 +7.8
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.40 season. or -3.60. Month to Date: .31
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.86, or -1.88, Month to Date: .13
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: 6:33 am Sunset: 7:28 pm. Hours of Daylight: 12:52
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 69 / 49 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 71 / 50 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 74 / 51 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 73 / 49 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 71 / 49 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 69 / 48 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1651 / 70 / 46 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 71 / 43 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1654 / 68 / 53 / 0.00 /
Rainfall
STOCKTON 0.00 8.74 70 20.74 166 12.51 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 7.56 66 16.01 140 11.42 13.11
MERCED 0.00 5.66 52 15.11 140 10.82 12.50
MADERA 0.00 6.94 67 13.89 134 10.38 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.40 64 14.70 146 10.04 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.51 52 10.20 117 8.74 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.86 67 7.43 129 5.76 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.13 27 8.79 212 4.15 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 6.68 58 15.79 136 11.60 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.56 81 15.51 132 11.76 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 5.72 45 17.07 133 12.80 13.95
Next report: Tuesday, April 10