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Forecast

April 21, 2018/report

April 21, 2018

Summary: Strong high pressure at the upper levels of the atmosphere now covers the eastern Pacific Ocean and much of the western U.S.  Thirty six  hours ago, the freezing level above us was around 6,700 feet while the reading taking overnight now calculates the freezing level at 13,500 feet.  That’s quite a jump in such a short period of time.  The marine layer along the coast, which we will be talking more and more about as we  move into the warm season, has been crushed down to 1,200 feet with  no sea breeze moving through the Delta. All of this, of course, means the rapid warming trend that began yesterday will continue as the high literally clamps down on the valley.

Near 90 degree weather is likely Sunday through Tuesday as the high reaches its pinnacle.

 

During the latter part of the week, a large Pacific low pressure system will approach the coast of the Pacific Northwest and northern California.  Latest models track this system further north than previous models had, so the only ramifications for the growing area will be a minor cooling trend during the late part of the workweek and through next weekend.

 

Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Wednesday.  Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday night through Saturday.

 

Short Term:                                                                            

Madera 84/53/89/55/90 Reedley 85/53/90/55/90 Dinuba 83/53/88/54/89
Porterville 85/53/90/54/91 Lindsay 84/52/89/54/90 Delano 85/55/90/56/90
Bakersfield 86/60/90/61/91 Arvin 85/56/90/58/91 Taft 84/61/90/63/90
Lamont 86/56/90/58/91 Pixley 84/54/89/57/90 Tulare 83/53/88/55/89
Woodlake 85/53/89/55/89 Hanford 84/53/89/55/90 Orosi 84/52/88/55/90

 

Seven Day Forecast:

Tuesday

Mostly clear

57/88

Wednesday

Mostly clear

57/89

Thursday

Mostly clear

55/87

Friday

Partly cloudy

57/85

Saturday

Partly cloudy

53/82

 

Two Week Outlook:  April 28 through May 4:  This  model has done an odd flip flop.  It now shows a better than even chance of showers over the Desert Southwest and California which would be a very odd pattern this time of year.  Temperatures would run fairly close to seasonal averages.

 

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 during the late morning and afternoon hours will be generally at or less than 12 MPH and variable in nature through Tuesday.  Winds during the night and early morning hours will be less than 7 MPH with periods of near calm conditions.

 

Rain:  Expect dry weather for the next 7 to possibly 10 days.

 

Frost:  All locations will be above 32 degrees.

Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.

Humidity: Visalia: 25%/95%  Bakersfield: 20%/70%

Actual Humidity April 19, 2018: Delano, 75%/28%, Porterville, 86%/36%

 

Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%  tomorrow 100%  Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%

 

ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days April 19, 2018: Stratford 1.32, Parlier 1.10, Blackwell 1.42 Lindcove 1.06, Arvin 1.22, Orange Cove 1.12, Porterville 1.11, Delano 1.21, Madera Two 1.08.  Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available. 

 

Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 62, Parlier 63, Blackwell 66, Lindcove, 63, Arvin, 63, Orange Cove 63, Porterville 64, Delano 68, Madera Two 62

 

Record Temperatures: 96/36. Average Temperatures: 76/48

Cooling Degree Days this Season: 27 +9 Courtesy of the NWS

Average temperatures for April so far, 62.2 +2.9

 

Precipitation:  Seasonal total/average/above or below average

Since October 1, 2017  Fresno: 6.73 season. or -3.65.  Month to Date: .64

Since October 1, 2017,  Bakersfield:  3.93, or -2.02.  Month to Date: .20

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: 6:17 am  Sunset: 7:39 pm. Hours of Daylight:  13:21

Yesterday’s Weather:

MAE   : Madera               253 : DH1700 /  77 /  44 / 0.00 /

FAT   : Fresno Airport       333 : DH1700 /  77 /  46 / 0.00 /

HJO   : Hanford Airport      242 : DH1700 /  76 /  42 / 0.00 /

NLC   : Lemoore Naval AS     234 : DH1700 /  78 /  41 / 0.00 /

BFL   : Bakersfield Airport  496 : DH1700 /  78 /  51 / 0.00 /::

VIS   : Visalia Airport      292 : DH1700 /  76 /  45 / 0.00 /

ATEC1 : Avenal               787 : DH1659 /  76 /  44 / 0.00 /

PTV   : Porterville Airport  442 : DH1700 /  76 /  43 / 0.00 /

TFTC1 : Taft                 759 : DH1700 /  75 /  53 / 0.00 /

LOSC1 : Los Banos            120 : DH1600 /  79 /  53 / 0.00 /

 

Rainfall

STOCKTON                      0.00    9.09    71   21.68   168    12.89    14.06

MODESTO                       0.00    8.00    68   16.78   142    11.81    13.11

MERCED                        0.00    6.91    62   15.79   141    11.19    12.50

MADERA                        0.00    7.22    67   14.17   132    10.75    12.02

FRESNO                        0.00    6.73    65   17.08   164    10.40    11.50

HANFORD                       0.00    4.70    52   10.65   118     9.05    10.10

BAKERSFIELD                   0.00    3.93    66    7.76   130     5.96     6.47

BISHOP                        0.00    1.13    27    8.81   207     4.25     5.18

SALINAS                       0.00    7.13    60   16.36   137    11.97    12.83

PASO ROBLES                   0.00    9.62    80   15.96   133    12.01    12.78

SANTA MARIA                   0.00    6.01    46   18.10   137    13.18    13.95

 

Next report: Monday, April 23