April 6, 2020
Summary: A number of locations on the valley floor have already recorded more rain from this storm than they would normally receive in the entire month of April. A few locations in Tulare County have eclipsed the one-inch mark.
A frontal system is stalled over the Kern County mountains and extreme southern Sierra Nevada with widespread precipitation currently occurring over Kern and Tulare Counties. The center of circulation of the parent low is just west of Monterey. That stalled front will slowly begin to shift southward and eastward as the day progresses. The widespread rain in the south valley has been replaced by scattered showers from Fresno County north. Later today, when the daytime heating process revs up, more showers and certainly the possibility of isolated thunderstorms will be the main concern.
The low will slowly move southward off shore, centering just to the west of Vandenberg by midday Wednesday. models indicate there will be a reduced chance of rain tonight and Tuesday, but then a slug of precipitation will wrap around the storm Tuesday night and Wednesday, possibly affecting the south valley. The chance of showers will diminish from north to south Wednesday night with dry weather returning Thursday.
The pattern for Thursday night and beyond will be very spring-like as a large upper high develops over the eastern Pacific. California will be parked under the eastern side of the high for a significant warming trend beginning Friday with temperatures near the 80 degree mark Saturday through Monday. Models show dry weather continuing for at least the first half of next week and quite possibly beyond.
Forecast: Rain this morning in Kern and Tulare counties, locally heavy at times. Scattered showers from Fresno County north. Periods of showers this afternoon with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. A chance of scattered showers tonight and Tuesday. A chance of isolated thunderstorms again Tuesday afternoon and evening. The chance of showers will increase again Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, diminishing Wednesday afternoon. A diminishing chance of showers Wednesday night. partly cloudy Thursday and Thursday night. mostly clear and warmer Friday through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 62/41/64/41/64 | Reedley 63/41/64/43/63 | Dinuba 62/40/64/43/63 | |
| Porterville 62/41/64/44/64 | Lindsay 62/40/63/43/63 | Delano 62/44/64/45/64 | |
| Bakersfield 62/46/62/46/62 | Taft 63/47/63/48/62 | Arvin 61/44/63/45/61 | |
| Lamont 62/44/63/45/63 | Pixley 62//41/64/44/64 | Tulare 61/41/63/43/63 | |
| Woodlake 62/40/64/42/63 | Hanford 62/43/64/44/64 | Orosi 62/40/64/42/63 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Partly cloudy 43/72 |
Friday
Mostly clear 45/78 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 47/79 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 51/82 |
Monday
Mostly clear 51/81 |
Two Week Outlook: April 13 through April 19: This model indicates above average temperatures during this time frame. It has also reverted back to a higher than average possibility of precipitation.
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 15 MPH through Tuesday with locally stronger gusts in the vicinity of showers. Winds Wednesday and Wednesday night will be variable to 12 MPH. Winds Thursday will be generally at or less than 12 MPH with periods of near calm conditions during the night and morning hours.
Rain Discussion: As of the time of this writing, rain was widespread over Kern and Tulare Counties but has broken off into scattered showers from Fresno County north. The widespread rain over the south valley will gradually decrease later this morning. expect periods of showers this afternoon with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. The chance of showers will decrease tonight and Tuesday, although there will still be a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Models show a slug of precipitation developing along the storm, swinging inland through southern California. This will affect mainly the south valley, so the chance of rain will increase again Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. the chance of precipitation will slowly diminish Wednesday night from north to south with dry weather returning Thursday and beyond.
Rainfall amounts could add up to another .25 to .50 in southeast Tulare County and Kern County. Elsewhere, the precipitation pattern will be spotty with amounts ranging from a few tenths to possibly more than .50 where thunderstorms occur.
The following are rainfall totals as of 6:30 this morning. Mettler .28, Taft .54, Bakersfield .49, Buttonwillow .40, Shafter .80, Belridge .56, Delano .81, Porterville 1.06, Tulare .74, Exeter 1.19, Visalia 1.20, Hanford .45, Lemoore .44, Parlier .68, Reedley .58, Fresno .89, Clovis .98, Madera .88.
Rainfall in the foothills and mountains generally ranged to between 1.50 to 4.00.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s. Kern, low to mid 40s. Humidity values ranging from 65%/95% at Hanford. Bakersfield 60%/90%
Actual Humidity range April 5, 2020: Delano, 95%/40%, Porterville, 97%/36%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 20%, tomorrow 30%. Bakersfield: Today: 10% Tomorrow: 20%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.23, Parlier 1.07, Blackwell Corner .NA, Arvin 1.36, Orange Cove 1.03, Porterville 1.11, Delano 1.15. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 58, Parlier 60, Blackwell NA, Arvin, 61, Orange Cove 60, Porterville 62, Delano 61
Record Temperatures: 92/36. Average Temperatures: 72/45
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 0 -4
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 56.7 -1.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average + or 6.70 or -3.23. Month to Date: .84 +.63
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 4.64, or -1.06. Month to Date: .23 +.10
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: 6:35, Sunset: 7:27 pm. Hours of Daylight: 12:49
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 60 / 44 / 0.23 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 59 / 49 / 0.06 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 60 / 53 / 0.10 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 64 / 49 / 0.06 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 64 / 50 / 0.01 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 71 / 51 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 65 / 52 / T /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1658 / 61 / 52 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 70 / 51 / T /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1657 / 67 / 53 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.47 7.67 62 15.68 127 12.39 14.06
MODESTO 0.33 6.17 55 12.03 106 11.31 13.11
MERCED 0.22 8.04 75 11.84 110 10.73 12.50
MADERA 0.04 4.49 44 9.75 95 10.28 12.02
FRESNO 0.10 5.96 60 9.22 93 9.93 11.50
HANFORD 0.06 5.42 63 7.49 86 8.66 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 4.41 77 5.90 104 5.70 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.77 43 7.55 184 4.11 5.18
SALINAS 0.51 8.40 73 12.25 107 11.48 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.63 10.47 90 14.00 120 11.67 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.42 9.02 71 14.47 114 12.67 13.95
Next report: April 7/morning