March 22, 2019
Summary: Light precipitation has spread over northern California this afternoon. There are isolated light showers showing up near San Jose and Salinas, but as of now that’s the southern limit of the rain shield. The chance for light showers will increase from Fresno County northward later tonight with a chance of light showers in the south valley Saturday as a rapidly weakening cold front moves down the valley. This system will be on the move, so dry weather will return Saturday afternoon. As the next ridge moves inland, dry weather will continue Saturday night through Sunday night.
A low pressure system will park off the coast of the Pacific Northwest Monday through midweek. The flow underneath this low will be out of the west/southwest with disturbances embedded within this flow resulting in light showers from time to time, mainly from Fresno County northward.
A stronger low will drop further south along the west coast Wednesday night and Thursday, possibly tapping into the subtropics. With a southwest flow flanked underneath the parent low off the northern California coast, possible significant precipitation could fall up and down the Sierra Nevada. The winds at the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere will move inland perpendicular to the Sierras, creating lift which typically squeezes out a considerable amount of moisture.
The rain line will move northward Friday into northern California. It had appeared that the weekend would remain dry, however some models are now suggesting yet another system will spread rain into northern California Sunday and Monday and that rain may move as far south as central California. The first week in April still appears active as storms move across the Pacific and into the west coast from time to time.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy tonight with light showers becoming likely from Fresno County north and a lesser chance of light scattered showers south of Fresno County. A chance of light showers Saturday, mainly north of Kern County. Partly cloudy Saturday night and Sunday morning. Mostly clear Sunday afternoon through Sunday night. increasing cloudiness Monday then a chance of light showers at any time from Monday afternoon through Wednesday, especially from Fresno County northward. Showers likely late Wednesday night through Thursday night with a small chance of showers from Fresno north Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 52/64/42/68 | Reedley 52/65/42/69 | Dinuba 50/65/42/67 | |
| Porterville 51/64/41/70 | Lindsay 51/65/41/69 | Delano 53/65/42/71 | |
| Bakersfield 53/65/44/71 | Taft 53/64/44/71 | Arvin 49/64/43/71 | |
| Lamont 52/65/43/70 | Pixley 51/64/42/69 | Tulare 50/64/41/68 | |
| Woodlake 50/64/41/69 | Hanford 52/64/41/70 | Orosi 50/64/40/70 | |
Winds: Winds will be variable at no more than 10 MPH tonight with periods of near calm conditions after midnight. Winds Thursday will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 10 MPH. Winds Thursday night through Friday night will be less than 10 MPH afternoons and evenings and 7 MPH nights and mornings. Winds Saturday will be out of the southeast at 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts possible north of Fresno and along the west side.
Rain: The latest system to affect central California has spread light rain over much of northern California. Later tonight, light showers will become likely from Fresno County northward, but it appears the south valley will either remain dry or record less than .10. Even from Fresno County north, no more than .10 to .20 is anticipated at this time. The chance of measurable rain should end by midday Saturday with dry weather Saturday afternoon through Sunday night. from Monday through Wednesday, a series of disturbances will move into northern California from time to time with a chance of light showers from Fresno County north and a minimal chance in the south valley. From late Wednesday night through Thursday night, a stronger low will move inland further south. The suggestion on some models is still that subtropical moisture will move underneath the storm and thus carried into central California. The Sierra could receive significant amounts of precipitation. The valley could also do pretty well along the east side, but the west side and Kern County will be tangling with the usual rain shadow. The rain line will track further north Friday. The dry weekend we had previously discussed is a bit iffy now as some models suggest a new low off the Oregon/northern California coast Sunday and Monday. Showers could possibly spread into central California. The first week in April also, on paper anyway, appears active with a chance of rain from time to time.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees.
Next report: Saturday morning/March 23