May 30, 2018
Summary: Temperatures throughout the valley yesterday soared into the upper 90s to the lower 100s. rapid changes are taking place, however, as the upper high shifts into the interior west, allowing a trough of low pressure stretching from the Pacific Northwest to off shore central California to approach the coast. Already ahead of the trough, a strong on shore flow is taking shape. The marine layer has risen considerably over the past few hours and now stands at 2,500 feet. The sea breeze is moving through the coastal passes and into the west side of the valley. Winds at Pacheco Pass were out of the west, sustained at 26 MPH while winds at Fairfield were gusting to 29 and Stockton 28. It’s always a rather tenuous call for temperature forecasting on days like today, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see temperatures drop a good ten degrees in most areas with the possible exception of Kern County which will enjoy the benefits of the sea breeze last.
Cooler air will move in aloft tonight and Thursday. This, combined with the surge of marine air, will drop temperatures Thursday another ten to twelve degrees with many locations not even reaching the 80 degree mark. By Friday, the trough will have moved into the interior west, allowing a relatively strong upper high to build in from the eastern Pacific. Much warmer temperatures will occur over the weekend as the high moves overhead, suppressing the marine layer and moving warmer air in aloft. In fact, temperatures Sunday and Monday will be nearing the century mark. On Tuesday and Thursday, temperatures will dip to near seasonal values as the next and very weak trough of low pressure moves through.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Thursday with a cooling trend with occasional high clouds tonight and Thursday. Mostly clear Friday through Monday and much warmer. Mostly clear Monday night through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 87/54/77/52/84 | Reedley 89/55/78/53/83 | Dinuba 89/53/77/51/82 | |
| Porterville 90/54/78/53/84 | Lindsay 91/55/79/52/84 | Delano 91/56/78/55/83 | |
| Bakersfield 94/59/79/56/83 | Arvin 94/57/80/54/82 | Taft 90/61/80/58/83 | |
| Lamont 93/58/79/57/83 | Pixley 90/54/78/53/83 | Tulare 89/54/78/52/82 | |
| Woodlake 90/54/79/53/83 | Hanford 91/56/78/53/83 | Orosi 90/54/78/53/84 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Mostly clear 58/92 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 63/100 |
Monday
Mostly clear 64/100 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 61/93 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 59/83 |
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 increase as the day wears on to 10 to 20 MPH at times at most locations with local gusts to 30 MPH below passes along the Coast Range. Winds will continue at 10 to 20 MPH at times through Thursday with locally stronger gusts, decreasing to 5 to 15 MPH Thursday night with winds of generally less than 15 MPH Friday through Sunday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Upper 40s to the lower 50s.
Humidity: Visalia: 25%/70% Bakersfield: 25%/60%
Actual Humidity May 28, 2018: Delano, NA, Porterville, 82%/24%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days May 28, 2018: Stratford 1.71, Parlier 1.55, Blackwell 1.95, Lindcove 1.46, Arvin 1.66, Orange Cove 1.64, Porterville 1.54, Delano NA, Madera Two 1.61. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 72, Parlier 72, Blackwell 77, Lindcove, 71, Arvin, 79, Orange Cove 66, Porterville 80, Delano NA, Madera Two, 79
Record Temperatures: 107/45. Average Temperatures: 88/57
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 220 +51 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for May so far, 69.8 +1.4
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since July 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.34. 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: 5:42 am Sunset: 8:11 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:27
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 99 / 65 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 101 / 70 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 100 / 62 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 100 / 59 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 100 / 70 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 98 / 64 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1646 / 97 / 64 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 99 / 64 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1655 / 97 / 74 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 99 / 77 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
Year % Last Y. % Ave. Annual ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 9.22 67 21.68 159 13.66 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.17 64 16.79 132 12.69 13.11
MERCED 0.00 7.06 59 15.79 131 12.05 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 63 14.17 123 11.53 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 61 17.20 155 11.08 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 48 11.04 114 9.72 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.95 63 7.81 125 6.26 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.49 33 9.16 204 4.49 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.15 57 16.36 131 12.53 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 77 16.14 130 12.42 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 135 13.71 13.95
Next report: Thursday, May 31