July 21, 2018
Summary: Upper level high pressure continues to be centered over Texas this morning, allowing slight decreases in barometric pressure aloft. This will allow temperatures to marginally come down from today through Monday, but even so, temperatures should remain slightly above average. The marine layer along the coast has deepened a little and stands at 1,800 feet. Some seepage of modified sea breezes will move through the Delta and possibly even Pacheco Pass, but will not move into central or southern portions of the valley. The winds aloft are out of the south and continue to move the monsoon from south to north through Arizona then up into Nevada. By Monday and Tuesday, the monsoon will begin to dry up and be suppressed southward by very strong high pressure expanding westward into the Desert Southwest.
Southern and central California will experience a blistering heat wave, especially Tuesday through Thursday when hottest temperatures on the valley floor will approach the 110 degree mark. Some locations in the lower deserts of California may hit the 120 degree mark. This pattern will also suppress thunderstorm development over the Sierra Nevada, so just occasional high clouds can be expected this weekend and for all of next week.
A slight cooling trend is expected towards next weekend as the high shifts to the east, even so, though, models going out two weeks are pointing to dry conditions and hot temperatures.
Forecast: mostly clear with occasional cloudiness through Monday. Mostly clear with occasional high clouds Tuesday through Friday. Expect very hot conditions. Mostly clear and slightly less hot Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 99/72/99/73/102 | Reedley 101/73/100/73/102 | Dinuba 99/71/99/72/102 | |
| Porterville 102/72/100/73/103 | Lindsay 101/72/100/73/101 | Delano 102/74/100/75/103 | |
| Bakersfield 102/79/100/78/102 | Arvin 103/75/101/75/103 | Taft 102/71/100/78/101 | |
| Lamont 103/75/100/75/102 | Pixley 101/74/100/75/101 | Tulare 99/71/99/72/101 | |
| Woodlake 100/72/100/73/101 | Hanford 101/72/100/72/102 | Orosi 101/72/100/71/101 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 73/106 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 74/108 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 73/106 |
Friday
Mostly clear 72/105 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 70/102 |
Two Week Outlook: July 27 through August 2: 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 Tuesday and mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for the foreseeable future.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 50s to the lower 60s. Kern: Upper 50s to the lower 60s.
Humidity: Visalia: 25%/75% Bakersfield: 25%/55%
Actual Humidity July 20, 2018: Delano, 77%/27%, Porterville, 60%/17%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 70% Bakersfield: Today: 80% Tomorrow: 70%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.28, Parlier 2.04, Blackwell 2.38, Lindcove 1.98, Arvin 2.26, Orange Cove 2.26, Porterville 1.84, Delano 1.95, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 76, Parlier 83, Blackwell 84, Lindcove, 79, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 80, Porterville 85, Delano 83, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 112/56. Average Temperatures: 99/67
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1018 +259. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for July so far, 84.9 +5.9
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: 5:57 am Sunset: 8:13 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:16
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 102 / 70 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 105 / 77 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 105 / 69 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 105 / 70 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 105 / 81 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 101 / 70 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / M / M /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 103 / 73 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1655 / 104 / 79 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 99 / 69 / 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 11.75 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 59 17.20 152 11.32 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 47 11.05 112 9.91 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.95 62 7.82 123 6.35 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.95 62 9.16 192 4.77 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 13.78 13.95
Next report: July 23