April 13, 2019
Summary: Upper level high pressure continues to build over California via the eastern Pacific Ocean. Freezing levels which were near 7,800 feet 24 hours ago zoomed up to 14,600 feet last night. temperatures will continue to respond to the high as readings in many locations will top the 80 degree mark this afternoon. Temperatures Sunday are likely to hit the mid 80s as the high reaches its pinnacle.
The next change will begin Monday as a low pressure system and its associated cold front move through later Monday night and Tuesday. Models are a bit more bullish on this system this morning and give at least a small chance of light showers as far south as Kern County. Where precipitation does occur, amounts will be quite light, ranging from trace amounts to upwards of .05.
As the system moves into the Great Basin, pressure differences will again increase, leading to another round of gusty winds over most of the valley, especially along the west side. Winds gusting to 35 MPH are possible along the west side and from Fresno County north on Tuesday with somewhat lighter winds elsewhere.
The eastern Pacific high will shift back into California Wednesday for the beginning of a warming trend. The high will dominate our pattern through at least Saturday. It’s possible warmer locations, especially Friday and Saturday, could top the 90 degree mark.
About a week from tomorrow, models indicate another weak troughal passage for a chance of light showers over the Sierra Nevada with a slight chance over the valley floor. That’s a low confidence forecast at this time. Medium range models continue to indicate a dry pattern as we move from the 20th through the 26th of the month with above average temperatures.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Monday morning. Becoming partly cloudy late in the day. Variable cloudiness Monday night and Tuesday with a small chance of scattered light showers. Clearing Tuesday night with the exception of Kern County and possible southeastern Tulare County which may remain mostly cloudy into Wednesday morning. Mostly clear Wednesday afternoon through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 81/50/83/51/75 | Reedley 81/51/83/52/76 | Dinuba 80/50/81/51/76 | |
| Porterville 82/49/83/50/77 | Lindsay 82/49/83/51/77 | Delano 82/52/83/53/77 | |
| Bakersfield 83/55/84/56/78 | Taft 82/57/83/57/77 | Arvin 83/52/84/53/78 | |
| Lamont 83/51/83/52/78 | Pixley 81/50/83/51/77 | Tulare 80/50/83/51/76 | |
| Woodlake 81/50/83/51/76 | Hanford 82/52/83/52/76 | Orosi 81/49/83/51/75 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Chance of showers 53/72 |
Wednesday
Partly cloudy 44/75 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 51/83 |
Friday
Mostly clear 54/88 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 55/86 |
Two Week Outlook: April 20 through April 26: A persistent ridge of upper level high pressure is projected to anchor over the eastern Pacific and the western third of the U.S., driving temperatures above average. Expect dry conditions.
April: This model shows April will be fairly typical with near to marginally above average temperatures during the month. This model also indicates there will be equal chances of above or below average precipitation. In other words, the road map on this model is rather vague.
April, May, June: Like the April projection, this model really has no dominant features that would indicate either above or below average temperatures, although the overall pattern should result in marginally above average readings. We are moving into the dry season, and this model indicates equal chances of above or below average rainfall. As we move forward, this will become a moot point.
Winds: Winds will be generally light during the night and morning hours with periods of near calm conditions. Afternoons and evenings will see winds mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 15 MPH through Sunday night. Winds Monday will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with locally stronger gusts, increasing to 15 to 25 MPH Tuesday with local gusts to 35 MPH, mainly from Fresno County north and along the west side.
Rain: The next chance of precipitation, small as it may be, will arrive Monday night with a continuing risk into Tuesday. Most of the activity will be over the mountain areas, however models are a bit more bullish in the possibility of measurable rain on the valley floor. The chance of measurable rain will be generally around 30% from Fresno County north and about 20% over the valley portion of Kern County and Tulare County.
Dry weather will return Tuesday night, continuing through at least Saturday night. models do show a weak trough moving through California about a week from tomorrow. For now, the valley looks dry with only a minimal chance of showers over the Sierra.
The two week outlooks also points to dry weather under a dome of upper level high pressure.
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Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s. Humidity values ranging from 26%/70% at Hanford. Bakersfield 25%/60%
Actual Humidity April 11, 2019: Delano, 88%/35% Porterville, 90%/NA%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 100% Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.57, Parlier .NA, Blackwell 1.37, Lindcove .NA, Arvin 1.31, Orange Cove 1.18, Porterville 1.27, Delano 1.32 Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 61, Parlier 63, Blackwell 58, Lindcove, 60, Arvin, 64, Orange Cove 59, Porterville 63, Delano 66
Record Temperatures: 97/34. Average Temperatures: 74/47
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 9 -2
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 62.0 +3.5
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2018 Fresno: 9.22 season. or -.95. Month to Date: .14 -.31
Since Oct 1, 2018, Bakersfield: 5.90, or +.07. Month to Date: .01 -.25
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Shafter, Stratford, Lindcove, Porterville,
Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:26 am Sunset: 7:33 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:03
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 75 / 44 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 71 / 46 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 73 / 42 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 74 / 42 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 72 / 50 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 71 / 42 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / 71 / 46 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 72 / 41 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1657 / 70 / 50 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 73 / 49 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
24hr Season % L.Y. % Ave. Ave. yearly total
STOCKTON 0.00 15.68 124 8.77 69 12.64 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 12.03 104 7.57 65 11.56 13.11
MERCED 0.00 11.84 108 6.75 62 10.93 12.50
MADERA 0.00 9.75 93 6.95 66 10.50 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 9.22 91 6.40 63 10.17 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 7.49 85 4.56 52 8.83 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 5.90 101 3.86 66 5.83 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 7.55 181 1.13 27 4.18 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 12.25 104 6.74 57 11.74 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 14.00 118 9.57 81 11.85 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 14.47 112 5.75 44 12.94 13.95
Next report: Monday morning/April 15