May 11, 2018
Summary: Upper level low pressure is sliding southward from Idaho and will park over the Great Basin later this afternoon. A new surface low is also developing over southern Utah. This low is projected to pretty much remain in place through Monday but by Sunday and Monday it will slowly be weakening. Central California is on the far west side of this system, not close enough to spread active weather into our region. The only exception will be the possibility of isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms from roughly Kings Canyon northward along the Sierra Nevada.
The air aloft is cooling and with that cooling will come somewhat cooler temperatures on the valley floor, as well. There may be slight warming coming up early next week as the low weakens. Weak high pressure will take over Tuesday through Wednesday. This is the second day in a row models have picked up on a low pressure system off the northern California coast at midweek. This may move directly through central California about a week from now, or next Thursday and Friday. Models also indicate this will be a dry feature but will lead to another round of somewhat breezy weather and the next cooling trend.
After that system moves through, high pressure is projected to move in from the west for the next warming trend.
Forecast: Other than occasional high, thin clouds, it will be mostly clear through Tuesday. Mostly clear Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday through Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 83/50/83/50/85 | Reedley 84/51/84/52/84 | Dinuba 83/49/84/50/84 | |
| Porterville 84/49/83/50/84 | Lindsay 85/50/83/52/84 | Delano 85/53/84/53/84 | |
| Bakersfield 85/57/83/57/84 | Arvin 85/55/85/54/85 | Taft 83/62/83/59/83 | |
| Lamont 85/58/85/58/85 | Pixley 83/50/84/51/84 | Tulare 83/49/84/50/83 | |
| Woodlake 83/51/83/51/84 | Hanford 83/50/83/51/83 | Orosi 84/50/84/51/84 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Monday
Mostly clear 52/83 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 54/85 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 55/87 |
Thursday
Partly cloudy 54/84 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 52/78 |
Two Week Outlook: May 18 through May 24: This model is reverting back to a weaker version of high pressure over the western U.S. with possibly some kind of low pressure system involved. This time of year, the chance of precipitation will be very minimal with temperatures falling back to seasonal values.
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: There will be periods of winds out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with local gusts to 30 MPH along the west side through tonight. Winds will be out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH Saturday through Monday with locally stronger gusts.
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%/75% Bakersfield: 20%/55%
Actual Humidity May 9, 2018: Delano, 93%/32%, Porterville, 87%/26%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 80% Bakersfield: Today: 80% Tomorrow: 80%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days May 9, 2018: Stratford 1.80, Parlier 1.62, Blackwell 1.75 Lindcove 1.53, Arvin 1.66, Orange Cove 1.72, Porterville 1.57, Delano 1.52, Madera Two 1.69. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 68, Parlier 70, Blackwell 75, Lindcove, 69, Arvin, 77, Orange Cove 61, Porterville 76, Delano 74, Madera Two NA
Record Temperatures: 99/41. Average Temperatures: 83/53
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 123 +59 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for May so far, 70.0 +4.0
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.11. Month to Date: .00
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.24. 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: 5:55 am Sunset: 7:56 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14.00
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 85 / 52 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 84 / 57 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 85 / 55 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 86 / 51 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 86 / 60 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 71 / 54 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1620 / 83 / 56 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 84 / 53 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1657 / 83 / 60 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 85 / 61 / 0.00 /
Rainfall
STOCKTON 0.00 9.09 68 21.68 162 13.36 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.00 65 16.79 136 12.33 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.91 59 15.79 134 11.77 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 64 14.17 125 11.30 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 62 17.20 159 10.85 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 49 11.04 116 9.50 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.93 64 7.81 127 6.17 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.22 28 9.03 207 4.36 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.13 58 16.36 133 12.34 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 78 16.14 131 12.29 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 136 13.56 13.95
Next report: Saturday, May 12