January 24, 2019
Summary: There are areas of dense fog mainly in the center of the valley from roughly south of Pixley to southern Fresno County. Areas near the foothills have generally clear skies. California remains right along the eastern rim of upper level high pressure off shore. This is continuing to result in a northwest flow aloft which will keep temperatures close to seasonal averages through Friday. Over the weekend, the high will shift eastward with the center of circulation just about right overhead. This would increase the chance of fog becoming more widespread, although we are now getting fairly late in the fog season and the sun angle is slightly higher than it was three or four weeks ago. Most areas, given these factors, should clear during the afternoons, though with fog you just never know.
Next week appears dry, at least through Thursday or Friday, as a blocking high will remain over the eastern Pacific and the western one-fourth of the U.S. The latest plunge of arctic air is moving into the Midwest today, nowhere near California. Another even stronger surge could affect the Rockies by Monday or Tuesday, but again, California will remain far enough to the east to keep it out of the forecast.
Medium range models give a little better chance of rain again sometime between the 2nd and the 7th of February, although disparity on models continues to be high. Confidence levels in my office are not the greatest on this.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Sunday with areas of night and morning fog and/or low clouds. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Sunday night through Thursday with areas of night and morning fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 60/34/62/36/62 | Reedley 60/34/61/36/63 | Dinuba 60/33/61/35/63 | |
| Porterville 61/34/61/36/64 | Lindsay 61/33/61/35/65 | Delano 61/35/63/37/66 | |
| Bakersfield 62/41/64/40/68 | Taft 63/41/65/42/69 | Arvin 64/35/65/37/68 | |
| Lamont 62/36/65/37/69 | Pixley 62/34/61/36/64 | Tulare 61/33/61/35/64 | |
| Woodlake 60/33/61/36/64 | Hanford 61/35/61/37/64 | Orosi 61/33/61/37/63 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Sunday
AM fog/PM sun 38/64 |
Monday
AM fog/PM sun 38/63 |
Tuesday
AM fog/PM sun 39/64 |
Wednesday
AM fog/PM sun 37/62 |
Thursday
AM fog/PM sun 39/65 |
Two Week Outlook: January 31 through February 6: Models for this time frame show a number of different solutions, ranging from dry to wet. The best course of action is to call for a chance of precipitation during this time frame with a west or southwest flow aloft. This would result in temperatures that are near to slightly above average.
February: This model indicates the eastern Pacific high will be the most dominant feature during the month of February. There will be the usual exceptions, but overall this would result in above average temperatures and drier than average precipitation over much of the west and colder than average temperatures east of the Rockies.
February, March, April: At least this model projects about equal chances for either above or below average precipitation. There is actually a greater possibility of below average rain over the Pacific Northwest. Generally speaking, temperatures should remain at least marginally above average.
Winds: Winds will generally be at or less than 6 MPH through Sunday with extended periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Expect dry weather for the next week to possibly ten days.
Frost Discussion: Only the very coldest low lying locations will be near the 32 degree mark tonight. Most locations will be between 33 and 37. For Saturday morning and beyond, all locations should be above freezing as the lower level of the atmosphere continues to slowly moderate.
Arctic air masses continue to plunge into the Rockies and Midwest. Fortunately, there are no projections suggesting these air masses will affect California.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
af |
Porterville
Af |
Ivanhoe
32 |
Woodlake
Af |
| Strathmore
Af |
McFarland
32 |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
Af |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
Af |
Madera
Af |
| Belridge
32 |
Delano
Af |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange cove
Af |
Lindcove
32 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
30 |
| Root Creek
32 |
Venice Hill
Af |
Rosedale
Af |
Jasmine
Af |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
Af |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
31 |
Holland Creek
Af |
Tivy Valley
Af |
| Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
Af |
AF=Above Freezing
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s. Kern, Low to mid 40s.
Humidity: Porterville: 65%/95%, Bakersfield: 55%/85%
Actual Humidity January 23, 2019: Delano, 100%/62%, Porterville, 99%/63%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80%, tomorrow 80% Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford .34, Parlier .38, Blackwell .38, Lindcove .31, Arvin .38, Orange Cove .37, Porterville .28, Delano .35 Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 54, Parlier 53, Blackwell 54, Lindcove, 57, Arvin, 54, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 53, Delano 52
Record Temperatures: 78/24. Average Temperatures: 56/37
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1172 -425
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for January so far: 49.6 +4.9
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2018 Fresno: 4.42 season. or -.68, Month to Date: 2.09 +.46
Since Oct 1, 2018, Bakersfield: 2.27, or -.54. Month to Date: .97 +.12
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 547, Parlier, 555 , Arvin, 482 Shafter, 565 Stratford, 553, Delano 557, Lindcove, 834, Porterville, 1128
Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 7:06 am Sunset: 5:17 pm. Hours of Daylight: 10:08
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 61 / 35 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 59 / 37 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 57 / 34 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 59 / 31 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 58 / 37 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 56 / 33 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1555 / 60 / 32 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 57 / 33 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1600 / M / M / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / M / 36 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
24hr Season % L.Y. % Ave. Ave. yearly total
STOCKTON 0.00 7.91 118 3.73 55 6.73 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.35 106 3.41 57 5.99 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.12 107 2.17 38 5.71 12.50
MADERA 0.00 4.58 79 1.43 25 5.80 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 4.42 87 1.36 27 5.10 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 3.33 68 1.72 35 4.90 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.27 81 1.03 37 2.81 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 3.46 140 0.20 8 2.47 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 5.80 100 2.24 39 5.81 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.36 112 2.20 39 5.70 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.41 106 1.97 33 6.06 13.95
Next report: Thursday afternoon/January 24