August 20, 2018
Summary: Triple digit heat was again commonplace throughout the valley Sunday afternoon with hottest locations coming in at about 105. Upper level high pressure is centered over southern California this morning, but is showing signs of weakening and moving to the east. The marine layer along the coast is not sufficiently deep enough to allow modified marine air to move down the valley yet. That will begin to change Tuesday as the high begins to shift eastward and a weak trough of low pressure moves into the Pacific Northwest. Barometers should lower enough over the interior to begin to tug some of that marine air through the Delta and possibly through other gaps and passes along the Coast Range. It would be most notable north of Kern County and along the Interstate5 corridor. This should allow temperatures to come down marginally Tuesday, although readings in the south valley may still top the century mark.
A batch of monsoonal moisture will make its way through southern California Tuesday, however with that trough moving in to the north, winds aloft will remain out of the west or southwest, ensuring none of that moisture will affect central California.
Temperatures through the work week will dip down fairly close to seasonal values. Over the weekend and into next week, some models are showing a deeper trough along the west coast which could actually lower temperatures below average by Monday of next week. The flow aloft will continue to mainly be out of the west, which is a dry flow this time of year. So, all in all, this week will be pretty close to seasonal averages with our temperatures and perhaps even a tad cooler next week with no chance of precipitation on the horizon.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday and not as hot once we get past today. Mostly clear Thursday night through Saturday with seasonal temperatures. Mostly clear and a bit cooler Sunday and Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 101/62/98/60/95 | Reedley 102/61/98/59/97 | Dinuba 101/60/96/59/96 | |
| Porterville 102/61/99/60/98 | Lindsay 102/61/98/60/97 | Delano 103/66/98/64/97 | |
| Bakersfield 103/73/100/70/98 | Arvin 104/70/100/67/98 | Taft 103/75/99/71/97 | |
| Lamont 103/70/100/67/98 | Pixley 103/63/98/61/97 | Tulare 101/62/97/60/96 | |
| Woodlake 102/61/98/59/96 | Hanford 103/62/98/60/97 | Orosi 102/61/97/58/96 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 61/95 |
Friday
Mostly clear 60/95 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 59/94 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 58/94 |
Monday
Mostly clear 59/91 |
Two Week Outlook: August 27 through September 2: This model is quite different than the pattern we’ve been accustomed to this summer. It shows a decent trough of low pressure along the west coast. This may actually result in below average temperatures with conditions remaining dry as a westerly flow continues.
September: This model indicates there will be a higher than active monsoon over the Desert Southwest and possibly central and southern California. This typically does not affect the valley floor other than cloud cover, but could result in a larger number of days of thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada and possibly even the Kern County mountains. With generally high pressure over the southwest, temperatures will likely be somewhat above seasonal average.
September, October, November: The first part of this time frame will see a more active than usual monsoon in place for above average rain over the Sierra Nevada and possibly the mountains and deserts of southern California. October and November’s conditions aren’t as easy to determine. At this time we’ll call for generally average values for both rain and temperatures.
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 15 MPH today and tonight and mainly out of the northwest. Winds Tuesday through Thursday will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH with local gusts to 25 MPH, mainly along the Interstate Five corridor.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 40s to the lower 50s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 15%/70% Bakersfield: 15%/45%
Actual Humidity August 19, 2018: Delano, 86%/15%, Porterville, 74%/13%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.80, Parlier 1.84, Blackwell 2.07, Lindcove 1.80, Arvin 2.14, Orange Cove 2.03, Porterville 1.76, Delano 1.81, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 75, Parlier 80, Blackwell 87, Lindcove, 78, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 81, Porterville 86, Delano 81, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 108/54. Average Temperatures: 97/64
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1591 +409
. Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 82.7 +3.9
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: 6:21 am Sunset: 7:42 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:22
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 105 / 64 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 105 / 72 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 105 / 63 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 104 / 65 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 105 / 74 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 103 / 63 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / M / M / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 102 / 65 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1653 / 104 / 77 / 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 12.84 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 6.37 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 3.02 61 9.18 187 4.92 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.16 57 16.45 130 12.65 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 77 16.14 129 12.49 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 134 13.80 13.95
Next report: August 21