August 3, 2018
Summary: Upper level high pressure is beginning to flatten out over northern California and will be suppressed southward through Monday. A westerly flow is now evident over central California and will result in clear skies through at least Tuesday. The marine layer is still fairly shallow this morning, standing at 1,500 feet. There is a minimal amount of marine air moving through the Delta, but there is not enough difference in pressure between the coast and the interior to affect the central and south valley yet. That will begin to change over the weekend as a shallow intrusion of marine air moves all the way down the valley. Temperatures should dip down into the mid to upper 90s, especially Sunday and Monday.
This minor cool down will be short lived as upper level high pressure will begin to build northward over California beginning Tuesday. By Wednesday, the center of this high will be over California and Nevada, returning hot weather to the valley. I don’t see any trouble from the monsoon through at least Wednesday, but by Thursday and Friday the winds aloft are projected to be out of the southeast. This would increase the chance of thunderstorms over the high Sierra and possibly partly cloudy skies at times over the valley floor. As of now, though, no precipitation is expected on the valley floor.
Forecast: Clear skies through Wednesday. Just a bit cooler over the weekend. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday night through Friday and hot.
Short Term:
| Madera 100/64/99/63/97 | Reedley 102/65/100/64/98 | Dinuba 101/64/99/64/97 | |
| Porterville 103/65/100/64/98 | Lindsay 103/64/100/63/99 | Delano 103/68/100/66/99` | |
| Bakersfield 103/74/101/71/98 | Arvin 104/70/101/67/99 | Taft 103/77/100/71/99 | |
| Lamont 104/71/100/68/99 | Pixley 103/65/100/64/99 | Tulare 101/64/100/63/98 | |
| Woodlake 103/65/100/63/98 | Hanford 103/65/100/64/98 | Orosi 102/66/100/64/98 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Monday
Mostly clear 63/97 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 66/100 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 69/104 |
Thursday
Partly cloudy 72/106 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 71/105 |
Two Week Outlook: August 8 through August 14: This model indicates a strong high will be over the Desert Southwest and California. This pattern is favorable for well above average temperatures with the chance of the monsoon moving into central and southern California from time to time, although no measurable rain is expected.
August: If you were hoping for relief from this relentlessly hot summer, this model does not show a pattern that would give you that relief. In fact, upper level high pressure which has been so persistent this summer is the dominant feature, resulting in above average temperatures. Also, the monsoon may be more active than in most summers, so occasional thunderstorms will be possible over the Sierra Nevada and possibly occasional periods of partly cloudy skies over the valley floor. Otherwise, the usual generally dry weather will continue.
August, September, October: Upper level high pressure will continue to be pretty dominant over the next three months with occasional bouts of monsoonal moisture affecting the Sierra Nevada through about mid September. Overall, temperatures will remain generally above seasonal averages with generally below average precipitation.
Winds: Winds will be generally out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts through Saturday. There could possibly be gusts to near 30 MPH along the west side, especially right along the I-5 corridor. Winds Sunday and Monday will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for the foreseeable future.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 15%/65% Bakersfield: 15%/45%
Actual Humidity August 2, 2018: Delano, 81%/16%, Porterville, 77%/13%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.06, Parlier 1.86, Blackwell 2.08, Lindcove 1.79, Arvin 2.27, Orange Cove 2.05, Porterville 1.75, Delano 1.86, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 76, Parlier 81, Blackwell 83, Lindcove, 81, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 82, Porterville 86, Delano 82, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 110/55. Average Temperatures: 99/67
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1291 +342. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 86.0 +6.0
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: 6:07 am Sunset: 8:02 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:56
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 100 / 65 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 103 / 73 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 103 / 67 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 102 / 68 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 104 / 76 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 99 / 67 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1631 / 100 / 75 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 102 / 67 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1655 / 102 / 78 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 98 / 66 / 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 16.03 131 12.20 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 3.01 62 9.16 189 4.85 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 13.79 13.95
Next report: August 4