August 13, 2018
Summary: The marine layer along the coast has deepened to 1,500 feet which is still quite low. There is a minimal amount of sea breeze moving through the Delta as winds at Travis Air Force Base are out of the southwest, gusting to 24 MPH. there will be a slight weakening of upper level high pressure over California in response to a low pressure system stretching from the Canadian Rockies southwestward to off the Oregon coast. Temperatures will come down a bit through Wednesday but even so, it does not appear the marine layer will become deep enough to penetrate the central and south valley. Temperatures should hover in the upper 90s to the lower 100s through midweek.
Beginning Thursday, upper level high pressure over the Desert Southwest will increase in strength and expand over California for the next round of triple digit temperatures. By the weekend, a massive high will cover the west with a ridge extending northward into the Pacific Northwest. This will result in another extended period of hot weather. For now, it does not appear records will be broken, but we should still end up in the 101 to 106 degree range over the weekend and well into next week.
The winds aloft are very weak and are out of the southeast. There is limited moisture within this flow, but it may be enough to trigger a few thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada during the afternoons and evenings. Clear to mostly clear skies will continue over the valley floor.
Forecast: Mostly clear and hot through Thursday. Mostly clear and continued hot Thursday night through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 100/63/100/64/101 | Reedley 101/64/100/63/100 | Dinuba 99/63/99/64/99 | |
| Porterville 101/64/100/64/100 | Lindsay 101/64/100/65/100 | Delano 101/67/100/67/101 | |
| Bakersfield 102/74/100/73/101 | Arvin 103/70/102/72/100 | Taft 101/78/101/77/100 | |
| Lamont 102/70/100/69/100 | Pixley 101/65/100/65/100 | Tulare 99/63/99/64/99 | |
| Woodlake 100/63/100/64/100 | Hanford 101/64/100/65/100 | Orosi 100/63/99/63/99 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 66/101 |
Friday
Mostly clear 68/102 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 69/103 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 70/105 |
Monday
Mostly clear 69/103 |
Two Week Outlook: August 19 through August 25: 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 Thursday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Upper 40s to the lower 50s.
Humidity: Visalia: 20%/70% Bakersfield: 15%/50%
Actual Humidity August 12, 2018: Delano, 77%/16%, Porterville, 73%/17%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.79, Parlier 1.76, Blackwell 2.21, Lindcove 1.80, Arvin 2.15, Orange Cove 1.94, Porterville 1.73, Delano 1.81, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 75, Parlier 80, Blackwell 86, Lindcove, 79, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 81, Porterville 84, Delano 80, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 112/53. Average Temperatures: 98/65
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1460 +371. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 84.2 +3.2
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: 6:15 am Sunset: 7:51 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:39
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 102 / 61 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 103 / 73 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 104 / 65 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 103 / 65 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 104 / 75 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 101 / 67 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / M / M /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 102 / 68 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1659 / 102 / 79 / 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 14