March 4, 2020
Summary: Temperatures are continuing the warming trend this afternoon as readings are 4 to 6 degrees higher than yesterday at this time with most locations in the mid 70s as of 1:00pm. Upper level high pressure covers the eastern Pacific, off shore, and extends over California with a weak, westerly flow aloft. The high will reach its pinnacle Thursday when most locations will eclipse the 80 degree mark. Temperatures will then head south again Friday as the high begins to shift into the Desert Southwest, allowing a weak trough of low pressure to move through Saturday. it appears the associated cold front will move through the valley about midday Saturday with only a slight chance of showers on the valley floor but a greater possibility over the high Sierra.
We are still watching model information for next week, and we’re still definitely on for a major winter storm late Tuesday through around Wednesday night. a large low will be several hundred miles west of the central coast Sunday then will slowly move eastward. In the meantime, the low will tap into the subtropics, creating a pineapple connection, which will have the potential to slam southern California with heavy amounts of rain. Some models move the low inland near Vandenberg Wednesday, slowly moving to the east Wednesday night and Thursday morning. models do not show another weather system moving inland late next week. Instead, it’s depicted off shore for dry conditions from Thursday night through Saturday of next week.
Forecast: Other than occasional high clouds, it will be mostly clear through Friday. Increasing cloudiness Friday night. a slight chance of light showers Saturday, mainly from Fresno County northward. A slight chance of showers Sunday morning. becoming partly cloudy Sunday afternoon through Monday night. increasing cloudiness Tuesday with a chance of afternoon rain. Periods of rain Tuesday night through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 42/81/43/77 | Reedley 43/81/44/78 | Dinuba 41/80/43/76 | |
| Porterville 42/83/44/78 | Lindsay 41/82/43/77 | Delano 43/83/44/78 | |
| Bakersfield 52/84/52/80 | Taft 54/83/54/80 | Arvin 46/84/48/81 | |
| Lamont 45/83/46/80 | Pixley 43/82/44/79 | Tulare 41/80/43/77 | |
| Woodlake 42/81/43/78 | Hanford 43/81/45/77 | Orosi 41/80/43/78 | |
Winds: Winds will generally be less than 6 MPH nights and mornings and at or less than 10 MPH late mornings and afternoons through Saturday.
Rain: For now, it appears a weak cold front and its associated trough of low pressure will move through the valley roughly midday Saturday for a chance of showers lasting into Sunday morning. realistically, it looks like most locations will remain dry. Dry weather will prevail Sunday afternoon through Monday night. it still appears we will have an excellent chance at picking up significant rain from late Tuesday night into early Thursday. As the center of circulation with this storm approaches the coast, it will develop a pineapple connection. This feed of moisture is still expected to slam southern California and, to a lesser extent, central California. On paper, the center of circulation will move inland somewhere near Vandenberg Wednesday. models are backing off of the possible second storm which would have affected California weekend after next.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above freezing for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Next report: March 5/morning