July 16, 2018
Summary: Get ready for a hot week. Upper level high pressure is just off the southern California coast in a position to drive temperatures well above the century mark. The placement of the high now has the winds aloft over northern California out of the west and out of the east over southern California. Central California has fairly light winds aloft. The freezing level is at its highest of the year so far and stands at 17,100 feet above Vandenberg.
The monsoon is alive and well over Nevada and Arizona, creeping into southeast California. As the high moves eastward by mid week, the winds aloft over central California will again be southeasterly, favoring another round of monsoon moisture moving in from the southeast. Thunderstorms will be on the increase by Wednesday over the mountains and deserts of southern California and the Sierra Nevada with, no doubt, cloud cover over the valley floor. Despite the cloud cover, temperatures will remain hot. Most locations between Tuesday and Friday will see numbers ranging from 103 to 108.
Model information shows a weak trough of low pressure moving through the Pacific Northwest. It will weaken pressures aloft over California. However, it’s possible temperatures will still be above the century mark. The winds aloft over the weekend will become southwesterly, pushing the monsoon to our south and east.
For now, next week also looks hot with a vast high over the west and a trough east of the Rockies, resulting in a break from the heat back there.
Forecast: Mostly clear with occasional high clouds through Tuesday and continued hot. Variable cloudiness with periods of mostly clear skies Tuesday night through Friday and continued hot. Mostly clear Friday night through Monday and, you guessed it, continued hot.
Short Term:
| Madera 104/68/104/69/106 | Reedley 104/69/104/70/105 | Dinuba 102/67/103/69/105 | |
| Porterville 105/69/106/70/106 | Lindsay 104/68/104/69/106 | Delano 105/72/105/73/107 | |
| Bakersfield 105/78/106/80/107 | Arvin 105/74/106/76/108 | Taft 105/82/106/83/106 | |
| Lamont 105/74/106/75/107 | Pixley 104/69/105/70/106 | Tulare 102/68/104/69/105 | |
| Woodlake 104/67/105/69/106 | Hanford 105/69/106/72/107 | Orosi 104/68/105/70/105 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Partly cloudy 74/106 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 73/104 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 70/102 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 69/102 |
Monday
Mostly clear 69/103 |
Two Week Outlook: July 23 through July 29: This time, this model continues to show above average temperatures throughout the western U.S., including California. The position of the high will be such that the monsoon may not be as much as a factor as the high will actually block it, keeping it mainly in northern Mexico.
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 Thursday and mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 50s to the lower 60s. Kern: Mid 50s to the lower 60s.
Humidity: Visalia: 25%/65% Bakersfield: 20%/55%
Actual Humidity July 15, 2018: Delano, 80%/30%, Porterville, 82%/23%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 90% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.25, Parlier 1.98, Blackwell 2.30, Lindcove 1.85, +Arvin 2.25, Orange Cove 2.12, Porterville 1.85, Delano 1.90, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 75, Parlier 81, Blackwell 83, Lindcove, 78, Arvin, 82, Orange Cove 79, Porterville 84, Delano 81, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 111/54. Average Temperatures: 99/67
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 908 +224. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for July so far, 84.2 +5.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.59. 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: 5:53 am Sunset: 8:18 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:25
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 101 / 68 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 103 / 75 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 103 / 72 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 104 / 91 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 104 / 79 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 102 / 71 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / 101 / 78 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 103 / 72 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1656 / 103 / 81 / 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 13.77 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 47 11.05 112 9.90 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.95 62 7.82 123 6.35 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.49 32 9.16 194 4.73 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 13.77 13.95
Next report: July 17