August 9, 2018
Summary: The center of circulation around the latest strong upper high is over Nevada this morning. The high has crushed the marine layer down to about 1,000 feet. The freezing level is all the way up to 16,700 feet over Vandenberg, which is the highest reading in the lower 48.
The clockwise circulation around the high is now turning the winds aloft out of the south/southeast. This will be more favorable for moving mid and high level moisture from the monsoon into southern and central California. High clouds have already spread into Imperial and San Bernardino Counties and they are slowly moving towards the west/northwest.
Beginning tomorrow, we will begin to see some mid and high level clouds over the valley floor, but the amount of cloud cover is not expected to be extensive. This pattern is conducive for just isolated thunderstorms over the high Sierra for the next several days.
Over the weekend, a trough of low pressure will move through the Pacific Northwest, marginally weakening the high and possibly lowering temperatures into the upper 90s in some locations beginning Saturday and continuing through Tuesday of next week. A new high will begin building over the southwest Wednesday, expanding into California for what looks like another stretch of hot weather beginning about Thursday.
Hurricane John has now been downgraded to a tropical storm and is moving west/northwest away from the Baja coast. It should be a depression beginning Friday. For now, it looks like the moisture from John will remain well off shore, leaving central California high and dry.
Forecast: Clear and hot today and tonight. Mostly clear Friday through Sunday with occasional high clouds and continued hot. mostly clear Monday through Wednesday then mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday night and Thursday.
Short Term:
| Madera 104/67/102/66/100 | Reedley 105/68/103/66/100 | Dinuba 103/66/102/65/99 | |
| Porterville 105/66/103/65/101 | Lindsay 104/67/102/65/100 | Delano 105/70/103/68/101 | |
| Bakersfield 106/77/104/75/101 | Arvin 107/73/103/70/101 | Taft 105/81/103/80/100 | |
| Lamont 106/74/103/71/101 | Pixley 105/67/102/66/100 | Tulare 103/66/102/64/99 | |
| Woodlake 104/68/102/67/100 | Hanford 106/67/103/65/101 | Orosi 104/68/102/66/100 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Sunday
Mostly clear 66/100 |
Monday
Mostly clear 67/99 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 68/100 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 66/101 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 67/103 |
Two Week Outlook: August 16 through August 22: 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 Sunday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 15%/65% Bakersfield: 15%/40%
Actual Humidity August 8, 2018: Delano, 92%/18%, Porterville, 84%/19%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 80% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 80%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.10, Parlier 1.91, Blackwell 2.09, Lindcove 1.87, Arvin 2.21, Orange Cove 2.07, Porterville 1.80, Delano 1.85, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 76, Parlier 79, Blackwell 85, Lindcove, 79, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 81, Porterville 84, Delano 81, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 111/55. Average Temperatures: 98/65
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1383 +350. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 81.7 +2.4
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: 6:12 am Sunset: 7:56 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:44
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 102 / 59 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 104 / 69 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 104 / 59 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 103 / 60 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 104 / 73 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 100 / 61 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / M / M /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 102 / 65 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1658 / 103 / 74 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 99 / 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 10