January 26, 2020
Summary: A Pacific cold front is currently moving through central California. Doppler radar was clearly depicting a frontal system falling apart before it even reaches the valley. A narrow band of showers had been evident along the frontal system, but it’s currently dissipating as it moves over the Coast Range and over the western side of the San Joaquin Valley. The air mass behind the front is marginally cooler. The freezing level over Oakland taken about an hour ago was 7,700 feet. Temperatures Monday and Tuesday will be marginally cooler but will still be above average.
From Monday through Wednesday, a flat zone of upper level high pressure will extend from the eastern Pacific and across California before moving into the interior west. The storm track will continue through the Pacific Northwest. An even stronger and larger high will build over the eastern Pacific Wednesday through the weekend and some models place the center of the high directly over central California Saturday. in theory, this could push high temperatures over the 70 degree mark. The big question, however, is how extensive the fog and low clouds become and, of course, they’re effect on daytime highs and overnight lows.
Medium range models going out through next week indicate a blocking ridge pattern will continue. We may see a cut off low over the eastern Pacific next week, but it would be too far off shore to have any impact.
Forecast: A chance of shower this morning, mainly from Fresno County north. Mostly cloudy this afternoon through Monday morning, especially in Kern and Tulare Counties. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Monday afternoon through Wednesday with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds. Widespread night and morning fog and low clouds with afternoon sunshine Wednesday night through Sunday.
Short Term:
| Madera 61/39/60/37/59` | Reedley 62/39/61/37/59 | Dinuba 61/40/59/36/59 | |
| Porterville 62/39/60/37/59 | Lindsay 61/38/60/36/60 | Delano 62/40/61/39/59 | |
| Bakersfield 64/46/61/43/60 | Taft 63/47/60/44/60 | Arvin 62/41/60/39/61 | |
| Lamont 63/42/60/40/61 | Pixley 63/40/60/37/60 | Tulare 61/39/60/36/58 | |
| Woodlake 62/39/60/37/59 | Hanford 62/41/61/40/59 | Orosi 61/39/60/36/58 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Wednesday
Am fog/pm sun 37/60 |
Thursday
Am fog/pm sun 38/63 |
Friday
Am fog/pm sun 40/66 |
Saturday
Am fog/pm sun 51/67 |
Sunday
Am fog/pm sun 41/69 |
Two Week Outlook: February 1 through February 7: A strong ridge of upper level high pressure is projected to be over the eastern Pacific and California during this time frame for generally above average temperatures. There will be virtually no chance of rain.
January: This model is rather inconclusive on precipitation and temperature trends. If anything, precipitation will be close to average with temperatures that are marginally above average. It does appear there will be potentially extended periods of dry weather, leading to episodes of fog and low clouds from time to time.
February, March, April: If this model has any kind of a grip on the situation, temperatures will run somewhat above average during the late winter/early spring period. This model would really dash the hopes of a wet winter as it does indicate below average rain for the three month period.
Winds: Winds today will be generally out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH, diminishing early this evening. Winds tonight through Wednesday will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: A cold front is currently moving through the valley. Doppler radar clearly shows the coverage of showers along the front is decreasing, so only a chance of light showers exists and that will be mainly north of Kern County this morning. rainfall amounts will generally be from a trace to a few hundredths. A few locations in Madera County could see .10 or so. This is our last shot at precipitation for quite some time as all the medium range models project a dry scenario for the rest of the week and well into next week.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Low to mid 50s. Humidity values ranging from 75%/100% at Hanford. Bakersfield 65%/100%
Actual Humidity range January 25, 2020: Delano, 100%/62% Porterville, 94%/59%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 30%, tomorrow 40%. Bakersfield: Today: 30% Tomorrow: 50%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford .33, Parlier .30, Blackwell Corner .33, Arvin .34, Orange Cove .29, Porterville .28, Delano .33. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 52, Parlier 51, Blackwell 51, Arvin, 51, Orange Cove 51, Porterville 51, Delano 48
Record Temperatures: 72/24. Average Temperatures: 57/36
Heating Degree Days this Season: 1286 -349
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for January so far: 47.3 +2.4
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since Oct 1, 2019 Fresno: 3.53 season. or -1.70. Month to Date: .65 -1.11
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 2.82, or -.06. Month to Date: .23 -.69
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove 674, Parlier 745, Arvin 574, Shafter 658, Stratford 650, Delano 731, Lindcove 858, Porterville 1143
Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 7:05 Sunset: 5:19 pm. Hours of Daylight: 10:12
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 63 / 43 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 62 / 49 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 64 / 45 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 63 / 42 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 66 / 42 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 62 / 49 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1509 / 64 / 45 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1500 / 57 / 47 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1552 / 62 / 46 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: Water year Oct 1st through September 30th
24hr season % last year % Ave. 365 day ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 5.17 75 7.91 114 6.91 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 3.86 63 6.35 103 6.16 13.11
MERCED 0.00 5.64 97 6.12 105 5.82 12.50
MADERA 0.00 2.90 49 4.58 78 5.90 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 3.53 67 4.42 85 5.23 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 3.12 63 3.33 67 4.97 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.82 98 2.27 79 2.88 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.16 46 3.46 137 2.52 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 5.88 98 5.80 97 5.98 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.61 113 6.36 108 5.87 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 4.79 77 6.41 103 6.23 13.95
Next report: January 27/morning