August 25, 2018
Summary: Expect temperatures to be marginally warmer through Monday as upper level high pressure has slightly increased over the past 24 hours. The marine layer has responded to this change and has fallen back to 1,800 feet. At last report, winds at Travis Air Force Base in the Delta were southwesterly at only 12 MPH, indicating the flow of marine air has dropped off to a trickle. Aloft, winds are out of the west/southwest. There are some visible high clouds over the valley this morning. These clouds are caught up in that flow and will not be a factor in our overall weather other than to make the sky look a bit more interesting for a change.
In the broad picture, there is a high center over Baja while a trough of low pressure remains over the Pacific Northwest. The low will move into the northern Rockies by Tuesday, increasing the onshore flow, thus the amount of marine air moving down the valley will be affected. Wednesday appears to be the mildest day of the weak when readings should lower into the lower 90s in the south valley and possibly even the upper 80s from Fresno County north. This will depend upon how much of that modified sea breeze pools on the valley floor.
By Friday, upper level high pressure should stretch from Texas to southern California. There are model differences, but next weekend, for now anyway, looks like it may see our next warming trend. I don’t expect anything excessive, but readings should at least poke into the upper 90s.
Forecast: Other than some mid and high level clouds mixed in with the sunshine today, it will be mostly clear through Wednesday. Mostly clear Wednesday night through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 93/59/95/59/95 | Reedley 94/60/95/59/95 | Dinuba 92/57/93/58/94 | |
| Porterville 94/60/95/60/95 | Lindsay 94/58/95/58/95 | Delano 95/62/95/62/94 | |
| Bakersfield 95/65/96/67/95 | Arvin 95/63/96/64/96 | Taft 94/69/95/69/95 | |
| Lamont 94/62/96/62/96 | Pixley 94/60/95/61/94 | Tulare 93/58/94/58/94 | |
| Woodlake 93/59/94/59/94 | Hanford 95/61/95/60/94 | Orosi 93/58/94/59/94 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 58/92 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 58/90 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 60/92 |
Friday
Mostly clear 62/95 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 63/97 |
Two Week Outlook: September 1 through September 7: This model indicates we will be sandwiched between two weather systems. The first is a low over the Pacific Northwest. The other is a high center somewhere over the Desert Southwest. This pattern will be conducive for monsoonal moisture to move through Arizona and possibly parts of southern California. For now, it would look like a southwesterly flow aloft will prevail, giving central California mostly clear skies with marginally above average temperatures.
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 mainly out of the northwest, especially afternoons and evenings at 5 to 12 MPH through Monday. Winds Tuesday will continue to be out of the northwest at around 15 MPH with local gusts to 30 MPH, mainly along the Interstate 5 corridor.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Upper 40s to the lower 50s.
Humidity: Visalia: 25%/75% Bakersfield: 20%/50%
Actual Humidity August 24, 2018: Delano, 86%/30%, Porterville, 94%/27%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.87, Parlier 1.73, Blackwell 2.11, Lindcove 1.72, Arvin 2.04, Orange Cove 1.90, Porterville 1.63, Delano 1.72, Madera Two NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 75, Parlier 81, Blackwell 88, Lindcove, 78, Arvin, NA, Orange Cove 80, Porterville 85, Delano 79, Madera Two, NA
Record Temperatures: 110/52. Average Temperatures: 96/63
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1664 +417
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for August so far, 82.0 +3.4
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.60. Month to Date: .00
Since Oct 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.43. 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: 6:25 am Sunset: 7:35 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:11
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 91 / 57 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 92 / 60 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 94 / 61 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 92 / 59 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 93 / 64 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 90 / 59 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / 93 / 93 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 91 / 58 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1649 / 92 / 68 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 88 / 55 / 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 13.77 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 11.05 111 9.92 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.95 62 7.82 123 6.37 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 3.02 61 9.18 186 4.94 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 12.51 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 44 18.44 134 13.80 13.95
Next report: August 27