January 23, 2019
Summary: Satellite imagery this afternoon, as of 1:00pm, was indicating generally clear skies above central California. The snow cover over the southern Sierra Nevada stands out like a light and one patch of low clouds near the Kings/Tulare County line is fighting for its life, but will soon dissipate. The fact that that one pocket of low clouds struggled into the afternoon hours is generally a precursor that the following night…tonight…will see the fog and low clouds having an easier time taking hold.
Dew points as of one were running in the low to mid 40s which is generally 1 to 3 degrees higher than 24 hours ago, while air temperatures are roughly the same. Also showing up on satellite imagery is upper level high pressure as a vast area of clear skies is evident off the California coast. The air aloft continues to warm as the latest freezing level stands at 12,600 feet.
The main challenge as we progress through the remainder of the week will be increasing amounts of night and morning fog, possibly lasting through the day in some areas. In locations where the fog hangs in there and there’s very little sunshine, highs may only be in the upper 40s to the lower 50s. But, in locations where fog and low clouds are absent, readings in the mid 50s to even the lower 60s will prevail.
Models do not indicate much daily change through the middle of next week and the medium range outlooks for the first week in February are all over the place. Unfortunately gone is the parade of storms we once saw moving into California on some models. These same models are now showing high pressure with a dry pattern. One thing is for sure is any polar air masses will remain to our east, so essentially above average temperatures will prevail above the valley floor with near to below average temperatures in areas with fog and low clouds.
Forecast: Mostly clear this evening through Saturday with increasing amounts of night and morning fog, possibly locally persistent through the day. From Saturday night through Wednesday, widespread fog and/or low clouds can be expected nights and mornings, locally persistent through the day.
Short Term:
| Madera 31/59/35/62 | Reedley 33/58/35/61 | Dinuba 32/58/34/61 | |
| Porterville 32/61/35/63 | Lindsay 31/61/33/63 | Delano 33/62/35/63 | |
| Bakersfield 37/63/39/64 | Taft 40/63/40/65 | Arvin 34/63/36/65 | |
| Lamont 33/63/35/64 | Pixley 32/61/34/63 | Tulare 31/59/34/62 | |
| Woodlake 32/59/35/62 | Hanford 33/60/35/63 | Orosi 31/59/34/62 | |
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with extended periods of near calm conditions through Saturday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next seven to ten days.
Frost Discussion: Dew points this afternoon are generally 1 to 3 degrees higher than 24 hours ago. At the same time, air temperatures are roughly the same. There was one pocket of fog and low clouds that lasted past 1:00pm in eastern Kings and western Tulare Counties which leads me to believe the fog and low clouds will gain a better foothold tonight and become fairly widespread by tomorrow morning.
Fog, as we all know, has a mind of its own and most locations out there will probably not be affected by fog tonight. But, with rapid moderation taking place of the air above the valley floor, and just a tad more moisture, I would look for the coldest readings tonight to chill down to 29 to 31 degrees with most locations between 31 and 36. Slow moderation will continue through Friday morning when most, if not all, locations should be above freezing.
The general lower level of the atmosphere will continue to modify through the weekend and into next week, though daytime temperatures could be held down on any day where the sun cannot penetrate the fog and/or low clouds. The low clouds and fog will also mean milder nights.
There’s no pattern that I foresee at this time that would bring a particularly cold air mass into California. Medium range models indicate the first week of February will have winds aloft out of the west or southwest, which is a mild flow.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
32 |
Porterville
32 |
Ivanhoe
31 |
Woodlake
32 |
| Strathmore
32 |
McFarland
30 |
Ducor
33 |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
33 |
Madera
31 |
| Belridge
31 |
Delano
33 |
North Bakersfield
33 |
Orosi
31 |
| Orange Cove
31 |
Lindcove
30 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
29 |
| Root Creek
30 |
Venice Hill
31 |
Rosedale
33 |
Jasmine
32 |
| Arvin
34 |
Lamont
33 |
Plainview
31 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
33 |
Maricopa
30 |
Holland Creek
33 |
Tivy Valley
30 |
| Kite Road South
33 |
Kite Road North
30 |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: Thursday morning/January 24