March 28, 2020
Summary: Light showers have spread as far south as Monterey along the coast with even a few sprinkles in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Sprinkles or light showers will spread as far south as Fresno County later this afternoon as the first of two little waves of low pressure moves through. This event is relatively cold but milder than the previous system. Snow will fall along the Sierra Nevada down to 4,500 to 5,000 feet. The dynamics of this system are quite weak so no thunderstorm development is anticipated. Some models still show the back side of this storm over central California into Sunday evening, so we’ll keep a chance of light showers in the forecast through the late evening hours. The dynamics of this storm over the south valley is very weak, so only widely scattered light showers are anticipated.
A new weather pattern will begin Monday. It will result in abundant sunshine and a warming trend. A flat zone of upper level high pressure will stretch over the eastern Pacific into California Monday through Wednesday. models show a stronger and larger high building along the coast of north America Friday through Monday, resulting in even more warming with temperatures possibly rising into the mid 80s this coming weekend. Some models indicate the possibility of an active weather pattern later this coming week, but that’s quite a distance off.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy through Sunday night. a chance of light showers this afternoon from Fresno County north. Light showers will be likely from Fresno County north tonight through Sunday evening with a chance of scattered light showers south of Fresno County tonight through Sunday evening. Mostly to partly cloudy Monday morning. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Monday afternoon through Wednesday. mostly clear Wednesday night through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 61/44/63/43/68 | Reedley 62/45/63/43/69 | Dinuba 61/44/62/42/68 | |
| Porterville 63/44/64/42/69 | Lindsay 63/44/63/43/69 | Delano 62/47/63/44/69 | |
| Bakersfield 64/49/64/48/69 | Taft 63/49/64/47/ 70 | Arvin 64/46/64/47/68 | |
| Lamont 63/47/63/45/69 | Pixley 63/45/63/44/69 | Tulare 61/44/63/42/67 | |
| Woodlake 62/43/63/43/68 | Hanford 62/45/63/44/68 | Orosi 61/44/63/42/68 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 43/71 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 47/74 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 48/80 |
Friday
Mostly clear 51/82 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 52/84 |
Two Week Outlook: April 4 through April 10: This model brings a higher than average chance of active weather back to California for a reasonably decent chance of rain. This model also indicates this will be a mild pattern with temperatures generally somewhat above average.
April: Typically, these models really do not offer a good handle on a weather direction. This particular model is even muddier than most. It simply indicates near average temperatures with near average rain over the next 30 days.
April, May, June Like most longer range forecasts, above average temperatures are indicated over the next 90 days for most of the lower 48, including central California. This model gives equal chances of above or below average precipitation, but considering we are now into the dry season, it’s pretty much a moot point anyway.
Winds Discussion: Winds will be variable to no more than 12 MPH through Sunday night. Winds Monday and Tuesday will generally be at or less than 10 MPH with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain Discussion: A weak trough of low pressure will move through the valley later this afternoon through Sunday evening. The chance of light showers from Fresno County north is high beginning early to mid afternoon. Precipitation over the south valley will be widely scattered and very light. Even in Fresno and Madera Counties, most locations will record at or less than .10 with no more than a few hundredths south of Fresno County. The chance of showers will diminish rapidly after the late evening hours Sunday night. dry weather will prevail the rest of next week and into the following week. There is some indication of a possible active pattern beginning about a week from Thursday, but in the meantime a great spring pattern will prevail.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 30s to the lower 40s. Kern, mid to upper 30s. Humidity values ranging from 50%/95% at Hanford. Bakersfield 40%/90%
Actual Humidity range March 28, 2020: Delano, 91%/42%, Porterville, 95%/40%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 10%, tomorrow 10%. Bakersfield: Today: 20% Tomorrow: 10%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford .76, Parlier .71, Blackwell Corner .NA, Arvin .84, Orange Cove .69, Porterville .77, Delano .84. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 57, Parlier 58, Blackwell 58, Arvin, 59, Orange Cove 58, Porterville 60, Delano 57
Record Temperatures: 85/33. Average Temperatures: 70/44
Heating Degree Days this Season: 2001 -420
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for March so far: 54.6. -0.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average + or -5.81 or -3.70. Month to Date: 2.27 +.45
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 4.41, or -1.04. Month to Date: 1.57 +.48
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove 967, Parlier 1035, Arvin 831, Shafter 885, Stratford 938, Delano 1013, Lindcove 1171, Porterville 1531
Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:48, Sunset: 7:19 pm. Hours of Daylight: 12:28
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 63 / 33 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 62 / 35 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 62 / 40 / T /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 63 / 37 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 63 / 33 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 63 / 40 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 62 / 41 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1653 / 62 / 37 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 62 / 38 / T /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1649 / 63 / 39 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / M / 39 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.06 59 15.12 127 11.95 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 5.70 52 11.75 108 10.92 13.11
MERCED 0.00 7.76 75 11.82 115 10.32 12.50
MADERA 0.00 4.41 44 9.65 97 9.93 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 5.81 61 9.08 95 9.51 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 5.20 62 7.38 88 8.37 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 4.41 81 5.85 107 5.45 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.73 43 7.55 189 4.00 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.87 71 12.01 109 11.04 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.74 86 14.00 124 11.28 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 8.60 71 14.45 119 12.17 13.95
Next report: March 28/afternoon