April 29, 2018
Summary: Low pressure is now centered over central Oregon with a trough extending southward into northern and central California. Even though this system is large in scope, it is moisture starved so any shower activity will be confined to the mountains of northern California. From Monday through Tuesday, this storm will move southeastward into the Great Basin with the western side of the low over California. Impulses will move from northwest to southeast through the trough, resulting in enough convection…especially over the mountain areas… for scattered showers and thunderstorms through at least Wednesday morning.
Models are still picking up on a stronger impulse moving through central California Tuesday into Wednesday morning. This will increase the coverage of showers over the mountains and will even give a small chance of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the valley floor. The best time frame for this to occur will be Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday. With the high sun angle and the long days, there could be enough solar energy to trigger a thunderstorm or two. Again, that would be Tuesday afternoon and evening.
By Wednesday afternoon, the trough will finally be moving into the Desert Southwest and Rocky Mountain region, allowing upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific to begin to build inland. It will be a slow process however, so expect periods of breezy conditions with below average temperatures, at least through Wednesday.
Once the warm up does occur, readings may again eclipse the 90 degree mark. This would be by Saturday and would last each day through probably the middle of next week.
Forecast: Partly cloudy today through Monday night. Variable cloudiness Tuesday through Wednesday with a small chance of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms, especially Tuesday afternoon and evening. Clearing Wednesday afternoon. Becoming mostly clear Wednesday night through Saturday with a warming trend.
Temperatures: High temperatures today through Tuesday will warm into the low to mid 70s. overnight lows will range in the mid to upper 40s north of Kern County and the upper 40s to the lower 50s in Kern County.
Winds: Winds will be occasionally out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH through Tuesday with locally stronger gusts, especially along the west side.
Next update: Monday, April 30