May 26, 2018
Summary: The trough of low pressure responsible for mainly sprinkles yesterday is still moving through this morning. However, a swath of dry air has entered into the southern portion of the low, ending any further chance of precipitation. There is still a good amount of clouds over Kern County and portions of Tulare County, but satellite imagery indicates they’re eroding from the northwest, ultimately resulting in a mostly clear but very mild day for this time of year. In fact, the air aloft is quite cold as the freezing level overnight at Vandenberg was only 8,400 feet.
That will change beginning tonight and as we head into the new week. By Sunday, the low will establish a weak circulation over the Great Basin. Behind it, upper level high pressure will build in from the west for a rapid warming trend beginning Sunday. The high will reach its pinnacle Tuesday when readings will soar into the mid to upper 90s. yet another trough of low pressure will approach the coast Wednesday with no active weather whatsoever with the exception of afternoon and evening thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada.
A cooling trend will begin Wednesday and if models hold, we could see temperatures falling back to near to even below average Thursday and Friday. In the medium term, another high will begin to build eastward into California via the eastern Pacific Ocean. If projections are accurate, a summertime regime could hold on for a while beginning Sunday of next week.
Forecast: Clearing in the south valley this morning with mostly clear to occasionally partly skies over the remainder of the area this afternoon. Mostly clear tonight through Tuesday with a rapid warming trend beginning Sunday. Mostly clear Tuesday night through Saturday with a cooling trend.
Short Term:
| Madera 77/55/84/58/93 | Reedley 77/54/84/58/94 | Dinuba 76/54/84/59/93 | |
| Porterville 78/55/85/59/95 | Lindsay 78/56/85/57/94 | Delano 78/57/86/60/95 | |
| Bakersfield 75/58/84/64/94 | Arvin 75/58/85/62/95 | Taft 77/60/84/64/93 | |
| Lamont 76/58/85/61/96 | Pixley 77/55/84/58/93 | Tulare 76/54/84/57/93 | |
| Woodlake 77/55/84/59/93 | Hanford 77/56/84/59/94 | Orosi 78/55/84/58/93 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 65/97 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 64/90 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 55/84 |
Friday
Mostly clear 53/80 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 55/87 |
Two Week Outlook: May 31 through June 6: This model shows a trough of low pressure moving into the western states and remaining for a few days. No precipitation would be expected with this pattern, however temperatures would lower to near seasonal values.
June: As we head into the summer months, it appears this June will be mostly dry, as is typical. Models are projecting higher than average pressure patterns during the month so look for temperatures, generally speaking, to be above average.
June, July, August: All summers are hot in the San Joaquin Valley, and typically very dry. This summer will be no exception. If there’s any tendency on modeling at all it would be that upper level high pressure would be marginally stronger than average with temperatures also running marginally above average. The monsoon season will begin in several weeks so it’s impossible to tell it will be an active one this year. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Winds: Winds will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH today with local gusts to 25 MPH possible, mainly in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Winds Sunday through Tuesday will be generally less than 15 MPH late mornings and afternoons and 7 MPH during the night and early morning hours. The next period of elevated winds should begin Wednesday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 35%/85% Bakersfield: 35%/64%
Actual Humidity May 24, 2018: Delano, NA, Porterville, 89%/33%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 50% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 40% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days May 24, 2018: Stratford 1.83, Parlier 1.66, Blackwell 2.02, Lindcove 1.59, Arvin 1.88, Orange Cove 1.79, Porterville 1.61, Delano 1.63, Madera Two 1.68. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 70, Parlier 72, Blackwell 77, Lindcove, 71, Arvin, 81, Orange Cove 66, Porterville 80, Delano 77, Madera Two, 79
Record Temperatures: 102/42. Average Temperatures: 87/56
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 198 +56 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for May so far, 69.8 +1.8
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since July 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.29. Month to Date: .00
Since July 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.31. 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: 5:44 am Sunset: 8:08 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:22
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 72 / 58 / T /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 71 / 59 / T /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 71 / 61 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 74 / 60 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 76 / 59 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 70 / 59 / T /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1655 / 68 / 57 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 73 / 59 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1655 / 72 / 57 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 70 / 57 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
Year % Last Y. % Ave. Annual ave.
STOCKTON 0.13 9.22 68 21.68 159 13.61 14.06
MODESTO 0.17 8.17 65 16.79 133 12.62 13.11
MERCED 0.04 6.95 58 15.79 131 12.01 12.50
MADERA T 7.22 63 14.17 123 11.51 12.02
FRESNO T 6.73 61 17.20 156 11.03 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 49 11.04 114 9.68 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.93 63 7.81 125 6.25 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.47 33 9.16 205 4.46 5.18
SALINAS T 7.13 57 16.36 131 12.49 12.83
PASO ROBLES T 9.62 78 16.14 130 12.41 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 135 13.69 13.95
Next report: Monday, May 28