January 25, 2019
Summary: Temperatures are running from 1 to 3 degrees warmer than yesterday at this time with most locations approaching the 60 degree mark as of 1:00pm. Dew points have also risen 1 to 3 degrees and are generally in the mid to upper 40s. the ground fog which extended from the Sacramento Valley down to almost Kern County this morning has dissipated, leaving visibilities at 4 to 7 miles. Upper level high pressure just off shore will shift a bit further east Saturday through Sunday with the axis of the high just about right overhead. This minor pattern change is already creating very mild temperatures over the mountain areas. Shaver Lake at 5,800 feet was reporting a temperature of 61 as of 1:00pm with similar readings in the foothill and mountain areas.
High clouds will begin to overrun the high over the second half of the weekend. By Monday, a series of weak upper air disturbances will overrun the high, resulting in variable mid and high level clouds from time to time but little else. Temperatures will remain several degrees above average for the next week or so unless the fog becomes more widespread. For now, it appears it will probably not become widespread enough to interfere with the mild January temperatures.
Models continue to vary considerably in trying to nail down a pattern for the first week in February. One model places a low right off the California coast with a series of wet disturbances moving inland from time to time beginning about the 2nd and lasting through about the 6th. This is the first time this has shown up, so for now we’ll take it with a grain of salt. One thing is for sure, there will be a pattern change beginning late next week. Whether this change brings rain back to the valley is speculative but putting a chance in the forecast seems like a good bet for now.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Saturday with areas of dense fog later tonight then again Saturday and Sunday mornings. High clouds will begin to enter the picture Saturday night and Sunday. There will be variable cloudiness at times Sunday night through Friday with patchy night and morning fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 35/64/37/65 | Reedley 35/63/37/65 | Dinuba 34/64/36/65 | |
| Porterville 34/66/38/68 | Lindsay 33/64/37/67 | Delano 36/66/38/68 | |
| Bakersfield 41/70/43/70 | Taft 44/69/46/70 | Arvin 37/70/39/71 | |
| Lamont 36/69/38/70 | Pixley 35/66/38/67 | Tulare 33/64/37/65 | |
| Woodlake 34/63/37/64 | Hanford 36/65/38/66 | Orosi 34/64/37/65 | |
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with extended periods of near calm conditions through Monday.
Rain: expect dry weather through at least Thursday night of next week. Models are still at war with one another, drawing up various weather solutions for the first week of February. One model shows a large low just off the California coast, rotating bands of precipitation inland from the second through the sixth. Before I put much credence in that solution, I’d need to see more of a trend develop on this and other models.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight and each night for the next week to possibly ten days.
Next report: Saturday morning/January 26