May 17, 2018
Summary: Temperatures are anywhere from 4 to 8 degrees cooler than 24 hours ago, largely because skies have cleared over most of the valley, allowing radiational cooling to proceed. Temperatures today will be very pleasant as the valley is completely pooled with marine air. The low responsible for the big cool down has now shifted to the east of the Sierra Nevada. This will allow a warming trend to begin Friday and continue through the weekend. Even so, temperatures will only be marginally above seasonal values.
The next in the parade of closed lows will arrive over northern California Monday. It will be centered over south/central California Tuesday. This poses somewhat as a challenge as scattered showers and thunderstorms will break out over the Sierra Nevada once again. As the low center moves over southern California, the counterclockwise circulation will have the winds aloft out of the east briefly. This could move isolated activity out over the foothills with even a slight chance over the eastern portion of the valley. For now, I’ll go with a dry forecast and watch for more clear parameters from this system.
Weak upper level high pressure will again fill in behind this system with temperatures rising to marginally above average by the latter part of next week. For now, it doesn’t appear anything too challenging is on the horizon.
Forecast: Other than some lingering clouds along the foothills of Kern County this morning, it will be mostly clear through Sunday night. Partly cloudy Monday through Tuesday night. Becoming mostly clear Wednesday through Thursday.
Short Term:
| Madera 79/52/84/55/86 | Reedley 80/53/85/55/87 | Dinuba 79/52/84/54/86 | |
| Porterville 80/52/84/55/87 | Lindsay 80/51/85/54/88 | Delano 80/56/85/56/88 | |
| Bakersfield 78/57/85/60/87 | Arvin 79/56/85/58/87 | Taft 78/56/85/59/86 | |
| Lamont 79/56/85/59/88 | Pixley 80/52/85/57/86 | Tulare 79/52/85/57/85 | |
| Woodlake 80/52/84/55/87 | Hanford 80/52/85/55/87 | Orosi 79/52/85/54/86 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Sunday
Mostly clear 58/87 |
Monday
Partly cloudy 55/80 |
Tuesday
Partly cloudy 54/79 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 57/84 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 57/88 |
Two Week Outlook: May 21 through May 27: This model, in one way, shape, or form, indicates a weak trough of low pressure will hang for several days over the interior west. This would result in a relatively strong on shore flow, maintaining near average temperatures. Any precipitation would likely be confined to the Sierra Nevada in the form of isolated PM thunderstorms.
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 mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH late mornings through early evenings through Sunday. Winds during the night and early morning hours will generally range from 5 to 10 MPH with possible periods of light winds. The next period of elevated winds will arrive late Sunday through Monday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 25%/90% Bakersfield: 25%/70%
Actual Humidity May 15, 2018: Delano, 84%/32%, Porterville, 83%/30%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 70% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days May 15, 2018: Stratford 1.91, Parlier 1.73, Blackwell 2.02 Lindcove 1.66, Arvin 1.82, Orange Cove 1.82, Porterville 1.67, Delano 1.69, Madera Two 1.78. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 69, Parlier 71, Blackwell 77, Lindcove, 70, Arvin, 80, Orange Cove 64, Porterville 78, Delano 76, Madera Two NA
Record Temperatures: 103/40. Average Temperatures: 84/54
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 151 +60 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for May so far, 69.7 +2.8
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since July 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.19. Month to Date: .00
Since July 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.27. 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: 5:50 am Sunset: 8:01 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14.09
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 75 / 54 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 74 / 57 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 76 / 57 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 75 / 56 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 79 / 59 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 75 / 54 / T /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1655 / 73 / 55 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 75 / 53 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1652 / 74 / 56 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 73 / 57 / 0.00 /
Rainfall
STOCKTON 0.00 9.09 67 21.68 161 13.47 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.00 64 16.79 135 12.46 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.91 58 15.79 133 11.90 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 63 14.17 124 11.42 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 62 17.20 157 10.93 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 49 11.04 115 9.58 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.93 63 7.81 126 6.21 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.25 28 9.16 208 4.40 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.13 57 16.36 132 12.41 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 78 16.14 131 12.35 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 135 13.63 13.95
Next report: Friday, May 18