May 7, 2018
Summary: The weather system that moved through the Pacific Northwest and northern California has now moved eastward out of the region. It did manage to lower temperatures a bit, which will carry over into today. Strong upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific is upwelling ahead of a new low. This high will move overhead today and Tuesday, allowing temperatures to eclipse the 90 degree mark Tuesday, especially in the warmer locations. This high has already crushed the marine layer, which is now barely measurable at Monterey. The freezing level is the highest I’ve seen so far this season and stands at 14,900 feet.
That low off the Pacific coast will begin to move inland to our north Wednesday, resulting in another round of high clouds and a minor cooling trend. Most of the cooling will be synoptic, which means lower pressure aloft. The surface flow will be generally off shore so the marine layer should not have much to do with the slightly cooler temperatures.
Over the weekend, a low will drop southward into the Great Basin on Friday then over the Four corners region Saturday. This system will be too far to the east to have much of an impact, although temperatures may come down slightly Sunday and Monday.
Nothing exiting shows up on medium range models. Above average temperatures will continue with little, if any, chance of precipitation.
Forecast: Clear skies through Tuesday. Other than occasional high clouds, it will be mostly clear Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Mostly clear Thursday through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 88/55/90/54/86 | Reedley 88/55/91/56/87 | Dinuba 87/54/90/55/87 | |
| Porterville 89/54/91/56/88 | Lindsay 89/54/91/57/88 | Delano 89/58/91/59/89 | |
| Bakersfield 88/62/91/63/90 | Arvin 89/58/91/59/90 | Taft 87/64/91/66/89 | |
| Lamont 89/58/91/59/89 | Pixley 87/56/91/57/89 | Tulare 87/54/89/55/87 | |
| Woodlake 88/55/90/56/88 | Hanford 88/55/90/56/88 | Orosi 88/54/90/57/88 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 53/84 |
Friday
Mostly clear 53/84 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 56/90 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 57/91 |
Monday
Mostly clear 55/86 |
Two Week Outlook: May 13 through May 19: This model is redeveloping a ridge pattern over the eastern Pacific and the western U.S. This indicates we will have above average temperatures with very little, if any chance, of precipitation.
May: This model is indicating upper level high pressure will be somewhat more dominant over the Desert Southwest, stretching into the eastern Pacific Ocean. This pattern typically means generally above average temperatures and would also result in below average precipitation.
May, June, July: Now we head into the heart of summer, which is typically dry for central California. This model is indicating even drier than average conditions will prevail. Upper level high pressure will be dominant, maintaining generally above average temperatures.
Winds: Winds will be generally less than 15 MPH through Tuesday night. Locally higher gusts are possible today along the west side. Winds Wednesday and Thursday will be generally less than 15 MPH with local gusts to 25 MPH along the west side.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 20%/85% Bakersfield: 20%/60%
Actual Humidity May 5, 2018: Delano, 80%/28%, Porterville, 78%/23%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days May 5, 2018: Stratford 1.53, Parlier 1.35, Blackwell 1.57 Lindcove 1.26, Arvin 1.34, Orange Cove 1.41, Porterville 1.27, Delano 1.34, Madera Two 1.36. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 66, Parlier 68, Blackwell 72, Lindcove, 67, Arvin, 74, Orange Cove 60, Porterville 72, Delano 73, Madera Two NA
Record Temperatures: 100/41. Average Temperatures: 81/51
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 88 +38 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for May so far, 67.2 +1.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.04. Month to Date: .00
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.21. Month to Date: T
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: 5:59 am Sunset: 7:53 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:54
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 85 / 55 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 87 / 59 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 87 / 59 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 86 / 56 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 82 / 62 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 84 / 57 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1649 / 83 / 55 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 83 / 58 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1652 / 81 / 65 / 0.00 /
Rainfall
STOCKTON 0.00 9.09 68 21.68 163 13.29 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.00 65 16.79 137 12.24 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.91 59 15.79 135 11.66 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 64 14.17 126 11.21 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 62 17.08 158 10.79 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 50 10.66 113 9.44 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.93 64 7.81 127 6.14 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.22 28 8.81 203 4.34 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.13 58 16.36 133 12.29 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 79 15.96 130 12.25 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.10 134 13.51 13.95
Next report: Tuesday, May 7