September 21, 2018
Summary: Temperatures yesterday afternoon hit the 90 degree mark at several locations. They will warm into the mid 90s this afternoon. Upper level high pressure continues to build into California and has crushed the marine layer which now stands at only 500 feet at Monterey. Travis Air Force Base in the Delta was reporting calm winds. The difference in pressure between the coast and the interior will remain essentially flat through Saturday with temperatures averaging 5 to 6 degrees above seasonal norms. The high will flatten out some Sunday and Monday as a weak trough of low pressure moves through the Pacific Northwest, just clipping northern California. It may lower pressures enough over the interior to allow a shallow layer of marine air to move down the valley for a minor cooling trend.
Models show the high quickly rebuilding Tuesday through Thursday with readings right back in the mid 90s. The pattern becomes more interesting for next weekend. By Wednesday, a low will develop well off the northern California coast then will begin to approach the coast Friday, possibly moving inland through northern California a week from tomorrow. It appears this low will completely cut off, meaning models will have a difficult time forecasting around this feature, but for now I see no real reason to put a chance of showers in the forecast, at least of yet. Cooler weather may arrive, though, in another 7 to 8 days.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Monday. Mostly clear skies will continue Monday night through Friday.
Short Term:
Madera 94/56/94/57/91 | Reedley 95/56/95/57/92 | Dinuba 93/54/94/55/91 | |
Porterville 96/56/95/57/92 | Lindsay 94/54/94/55/93 | Delano 96/60/95/59/93 | |
Bakersfield 96/66/95/66/93 | Arvin 97/62/95/60/94 | Taft 95/68/95/68/93 | |
Lamont 96/63/95/61/94 | Pixley 95/55/95/56/92 | Tulare 93/54/94/55/91 | |
Woodlake 94/54/94/56/91 | Hanford 95/56/95/57/93 | Orosi 94/56/94/57/92 |
Seven Day Forecast:
Monday
Mostly clear 56/91 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 57/94 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 59/95 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 60/95 |
Friday
Mostly clear 61/91 |
Two Week Outlook: September 27 through October 3: This model depicts a cool trough of low pressure east of the Rockies and upper level high pressure over and along the west coast. This should result in dry weather and 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 less than 12 MPH through Monday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions indefinitely.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Humidity: Visalia: 20%/75% Bakersfield: 20%/50%
Actual Humidity September 20, 2018: Delano, 90%/24%, Porterville, 82%/21%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100% tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.48, Parlier 1.31, Blackwell 1.38, Lindcove 1.30, Arvin 1.47, Orange Cove 1.44, Porterville 1.19, Delano 1.34, Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 70, Parlier 71, Blackwell 81, Lindcove, 73, Arvin, 72, Orange Cove 74, Porterville 78, Delano 70
Record Temperatures: 102/42. Average Temperatures: 90/57
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 1960 +435
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for September so far: 75.7 +1.1
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -4.68. Month to Date: .00
Since Oct 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -2.48. 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: 6:47 am Sunset: 6:56 pm. Hours of Daylight: 12:11
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 93 / 55 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 91 / 59 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 91 / 52 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 91 / 53 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 89 / 64 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 90 / 54 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1658 / 89 / 56 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 91 / 56 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1659 / 89 / 67 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 90 / 56 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
Year % Last Y. % Ave. Annual ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 9.22 66 21.79 157 13.92 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.17 63 16.93 131 12.97 13.11
MERCED 0.00 7.06 57 16.04 130 12.38 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 61 14.26 120 11.91 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 59 17.30 152 11.41 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 47 11.16 111 10.03 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.95 61 8.33 130 6.43 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 3.08 61 9.18 181 5.08 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.16 56 16.49 129 12.74 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 76 16.17 128 12.66 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.01 43 18.91 136 13.88 13.95
Next report: Saturday, September 22/First Day of Fall