January 22, 2020
Summary: Skies have cleared over much of the valley this afternoon as upper level high pressure builds eastward into California via the eastern Pacific Ocean. The air aloft continues to warm with the latest balloon sounding above Vandenberg AFB showing a freezing level of 10,300 feet. Dew points are way up there, in the upper 40s and lower 50s, meaning fog and low clouds will have no problem developing after midnight Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. With generally partly cloudy skies during the afternoons and upper level high pressure dominating, daytime highs will warm well into the 60s through Saturday.
The high will temporarily break down Sunday, allowing a trough of elongated low pressure to move into California. Models over the past few days have been depicting the southern limit of precipitation across the Kern County mountains and latest models this afternoon continue that trend. The chance for precipitation throughout the valley appears likely Sunday and Sunday night with some lingering showers possible into Monday morning. this is a lower latitude system, so snow levels will be relatively high with very mild conditions continuing, despite the showers.
The trough will move into the interior west Monday, allowing a flat zone of high pressure to become established across the eastern Pacific and into California for much of next week. So, it appears the precipitation on Sunday and Sunday night may be the last rain event we’ll see for a while.
Forecast: Areas of low clouds and fog nights and mornings with mostly clear to partly cloudy afternoons through Saturday. increasing cloudiness Saturday night. showers likely Sunday and Sunday night with a chance of a few lingering showers early Monday morning. mostly to partly cloudy Monday through Tuesday morning. partly cloudy Tuesday through Wednesday with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds.
Short Term:
| Madera 38/61/41/62 | Reedley 39/61/41/63 | Dinuba 38/61/40/63 | |
| Porterville 39/63/41/64 | Lindsay 38/62/40/63 | Delano 41/64/42/63 | |
| Bakersfield 46/64/46/63 | Taft 47/64/47/63 | Arvin 40/64/41/63 | |
| Lamont 40/63/43/63 | Pixley 39/63/42/63 | Tulare 38/61/41/62 | |
| Woodlake 39/61/41/62 | Hanford 41/62/42/63 | Orosi 38/62/40/63 | |
Winds: Winds will be at or less than 6 MPH through Saturday with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through Saturday night. for the past few days, models have been depicting the southern limit of shower activity Sunday being across the Kern County mountains. Models this afternoon continue that trend so at least some precipitation is likely Sunday and Sunday night. a few showers may last into Monday morning. rainfall amounts from this event will be generally light with no more than .10 to .20 in Kern County and possibly upwards to .25 north of Kern County with locally more in eastern Fresno and Madera Counties. Dry weather will return Monday and continue through at least the later part of next week, if not beyond.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight and each night for the remainder of the week and, if models are correct, well into next week, as well.
Next report: January 23/morning