August 11, 2018
Summary: Upper level high pressure has been nudged just a bit further east, centering over eastern Nevada and Utah. The freezing level has come down a bit as the reading taken over VAF last night stood at 15, 100 feet. The marine layer along the coast remains very shallow, hovering around 1,000 feet in depth. The slight eastward shift of the high will only marginally cause temperatures to lower. Readings both today and Sunday will be in the lower 100s at most locations with just minor cooling Monday through Wednesday as a trough moves through the Pacific Northwest.
The position of the high still has winds aloft out of the southeast and they remain weak. This will result in a minimal amount of monsoon moisture working into southern California through Tuesday. This will have minor impact over the valley floor, just occasional cloudiness and a minimal number of isolated thunderstorms over the high Sierra each afternoon.
Former Hurricane John is now just a remnant low well off the Baja coastline. Models show this moisture moving northward off shore, possibly affecting parts of northern California Sunday and Monday. This moisture will remain far enough to our west to prevent having any local impact.
By Thursday and Friday of next week, a new high at the upper levels of the atmosphere will build over the Desert Southwest, expanding northwesterly over California. In fact, by Saturday some models place the center of circulation right over California for temperatures that could be well above the century mark and for the possibility of mid and high level monsoon moisture moving in.
Forecast: Other than occasional cloudiness and hazy conditions, it will be mostly clear and hot through Tuesday. Mostly clear Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy through Saturday and becoming hot.
Short Term:
| Madera 101/66/100/64/100 | Reedley 102/66/101/65/100 | Dinuba 100/65/99/64/99 | |
| Porterville 102/66/101/65/100 | Lindsay 102/65/100/64/100 | Delano 102/69/101/67/101 | |
| Bakersfield 103/76/102/75/100 | Arvin 103/70/101/67/101 | Taft 102/77/101/75/100 | |
| Lamont 103/75/101/72/100 | Pixley 103/67/101/65/100 | Tulare 101/65/100/64/99 | |
| Woodlake 102/65/100/64/99 | Hanford 103/66/101/65/100 | Orosi 102/65/100/63/99 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 64/99 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 65/99 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 67/100 |
Friday
Mostly clear 69/102 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 71/104 |
Two Week Outlook: August 17 through August 23: 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 Tuesday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Upper 40s to the lower 50s.
Humidity: Visalia: 20%/75% Bakersfield: 15%/50%
Actual Humidity August 10, 2018: Delano, 86%/21%, Porterville, 76%/19%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 80% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.97, Parlier 1.83, Blackwell 2.15, Lindcove 1.82, Arvin 2.16, Orange Cove 2.03, Porterville 1.77, Delano 1.82, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 76, Parlier 80, Blackwell 85, Lindcove, 78, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 81, Porterville 84, Delano 80, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 113/54. Average Temperatures: 98/65
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1423 +362. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 82.3 +3.1
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: 6:14 am Sunset: 7:53 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:41
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 103 / 64 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 106 / 73 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 105 / 66 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 105 / 67 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 103 / 78 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 99 / 65 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 102 / 68 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1659 / 103 / 82 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 101 / M / 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 6.36 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 3.02 62 9.18 188 4.89 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.16 57 16.45 130 12.64 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 77 16.14 129 12.47 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 134 13.79 13.95
Next report: August 13