July 7, 2018
Summary: It was hot in the valley yesterday, but it paled in comparison to southern California. The Los Angeles basin cooked under a searing heat wave which resulted in temperatures between 110 and 120. Woodland Hills hit 117 as did Chatsworth with 115 at Van Nuys. Even downtown LA hit 108 which was definitely a record for the date.
Satellite imagery shows the remains of once Hurricane Fabio continuing to move into northern California on a southwest flow aloft. There is a batch of monsoon moisture covering San Bernardino County then as far north as the Kern County mountains. The winds over central California tilt to a south/southwest flow which will keep the monsoon just to our southeast through Sunday.
Strong upper level high pressure will remain over the Desert Southwest and California. By Monday, the high will have shifted far enough to the west to begin to move monsoon moisture into central California. The chance for mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms will increase over the Sierra Nevada with isolated activity possible over the Kern County mountains. Even though the high will weaken a tad after Monday, the flow aloft will continue to be out of the southeast, maintaining the monsoon flow into southern and central California. Most models bring a stronger surge of moisture into the region Tuesday and Wednesday. No rain is expected on the valley floor, but cloud cover may lower temperatures somewhat during the day and will bring temperatures up at night.
Medium range models continue to show a persistent upper high over the Desert Southwest, favoring a continued southwest flow aloft. It appears there’s a chance of scattered thunderstorms, mainly afternoons and evenings, for all of next week with occasional periods of partly cloudy skies over the valley floor. Temperatures will remain above average, possibly near average on any given day when there is cloud cover.
Forecast: Mostly clear and hot through Sunday with occasional high clouds. Generally partly cloudy Sunday night through Wednesday. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday night through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 104/67/104/67/101 | Reedley 105/68/104/68/102 | Dinuba 102/67/103/68/101 | |
| Porterville 105/67/104/68/103 | Lindsay 104/67/104/67/102 | Delano 105/71/104/70/102 | |
| Bakersfield 106/77/104/76/103 | Arvin 106/74/105/74/102 | Taft 104/79/104/79/101 | |
| Lamont 105/73/104/74/103 | Pixley 104/69/104/70/101 | Tulare 103/67/103/68/101 | |
| Woodlake 103/66/103/68/101 | Hanford 105/69/104/68/102 | Orosi 103/68/103/69/102 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Partly cloudy 69/102 |
Wednesday
Partly cloudy 72/103 |
Thursday
Partly cloudy 72/102 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 71/101 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 70/103 |
Two Week Outlook: July 12 through July 17: This model indicates a continuation of persistent upper level high pressure over the Desert Southwest and California. This pattern will favor monsoon moisture moving into our region from time to time for partly cloudy skies. Thunderstorms will also be possible each day over the Sierra Nevada and possibly the Kern County mountains. Temperatures will range above seasonal values.
July: This model is indicating high pressure over the Desert Southwest will be stronger than usual. A fairly active monsoon is also indicated for periods of thunderstorms over the Sierra and hotter than average temperatures over the valley floor.
July, August, September: Like the 30 day outlook, this model is indicating we’ll have a hot summer, moving into the early fall. Above average precipitation is possible over southern California and the Sierra Nevada due to an active monsoon season with temperatures remaining generally above average for the next three months.
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 15 MPH through Tuesday and mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Low to mid 50s.
Humidity: Visalia: 15%/65% Bakersfield: 15%/50%
Actual Humidity July 5, 2018: Delano, 89%/36%, Porterville, 86%/24%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 80% Bakersfield: Today: 70% Tomorrow: 80%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.08, Parlier 2.00, Blackwell 2.42, Lindcove 1.96, Arvin 2.23, Orange Cove 2.16, Porterville 1.92, Delano 2.01, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 75, Parlier 81, Blackwell 87, Lindcove, 77, Arvin, 85, Orange Cove 78, Porterville 82, Delano 79, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 111/50. Average Temperatures: 97/65
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 699 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for July so far, 81.3 +3.3
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.58. Month to Date: .00
Since Oct 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.40. Month to Date: .00
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: 5:47 am Sunset: 8:21 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:32
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 101 / 66 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 103 / 72 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 102 / 69 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 101 / 70 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 100 / 73 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 99 / 66 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1636 / 97 / 97 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 100 / 65 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1658 / 99 / 76 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 95 / 64 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
Year % Last Y. % Ave. Annual ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 9.22 67 21.78 158 13.76 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.17 64 16.93 132 12.83 13.11
MERCED 0.00 7.06 58 16.03 132 12.19 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 61 14.18 121 11.74 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 60 17.20 152 11.31 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 48 11.05 112 9.89 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.95 62 7.82 123 6.35 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.49 32 9.16 194 4.71 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.16 57 16.45 130 12.63 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 77 16.14 130 12.45 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 134 13.76 13.95
Next report: July 9