August 8, 2018
Summary: Upper level high pressure is building northward and westward from its center over Arizona. The freezing level is now up to 16,600 feet which is the highest reading in the lower 48 while the marine layer is 1,200 feet and is not moving through the Delta. With the high building overhead, a string of triple digit readings will begin today and continue through the weekend. It’s possible temperatures could lower into the upper 90s to the lower 100s this weekend, but nevertheless readings will continue to be above average.
By Thursday of this week, the counterclockwise circulation around the high will begin a southeast flow which will last through the coming weekend. The monsoon is inching its way up into southern Arizona and by Friday and Saturday will begin to creep into central California. Models are indicating that just a minimal amount of mid and high level moisture will move into the area with occasional cloudiness over the valley and isolated thunderstorms over the high Sierra. To our south, Hurricane John will end up about 200 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas tomorrow then will be parallel to the Baja coast for a time before moving westward over the weekend. By Monday, John will turn into a tropical depression well off the Baja coast. For now, there’s no indication any moisture from John will affect central California.
Models for next week are indicating high pressure will dominate the southwest and California. It’s likely triple digit temperatures will be the main theme. Hazy conditions will also prevail due to a cap over the valley floor under high pressure aloft, trapping haze and smoke. This will continue to produce lousy air quality probably well into next week.
Forecast: Clear skies through Friday, continued hazy. Mostly clear Friday night through Sunday with occasional cloudiness and continued hazy and hot. mostly clear Monday through Wednesday and continued hot.
Short Term:
| Madera 101/65/104/68/104 | Reedley 102/64/104/68/103 | Dinuba 101/64/103/67/103 | |
| Porterville 102/66/104/68/103 | Lindsay 101/65/103/68/103 | Delano 102/68/104/71/104 | |
| Bakersfield 102/74/105/78/104 | Arvin 103/72/105/74/105 | Taft 101/78/104/80/104 | |
| Lamont 102/73/105/75/105 | Pixley 101/66/104/69/104 | Tulare 101/65/103/68/103 | |
| Woodlake 101/65/104/68/104 | Hanford 102/65/104/69/103 | Orosi 101/65/103/68/103 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Mostly clear 68/101 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 69/101 |
Monday
Mostly clear 68/100 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 67/102 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 68/102 |
Two Week Outlook: August 15 through August 21: This model indicates upper level high pressure will again dominate the southwest and California, moving temperatures above average once again. Mostly clear skies will prevail as this model indicates the monsoon will move into Arizona and New Mexico, leaving California dry.
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 less than 15 MPH and mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings through Saturday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 20%/70% Bakersfield: 15%/45%
Actual Humidity August 7, 2018: Delano, 88%/24%, Porterville, 79%/23%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.14, Parlier 1.93, Blackwell 2.10, Lindcove 1.87, Arvin 2.21, Orange Cove 2.09, Porterville 1.81, Delano 1.86, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 76, Parlier 80, Blackwell 85, Lindcove, 79, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 81, Porterville 85, Delano 81, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 113/55. Average Temperatures: 98/65
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1351 +346. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 81.9 +2.6
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: 6:11 am Sunset: 7:57 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:46
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 98 / 59 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 99 / 70 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 101 / 59 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 100 / 60 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 99 / 72 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 96 / 62 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / 66 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 98 / 63 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1654 / 98 / 76 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 96 / 65 / 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 3.02 62 9.18 189 4.87 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.16 57 16.45 130 12.64 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 77 16.14 130 12.46 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 134 13.79 13.95
Next report: August 9