April 8, 2020
Summary: With the additional .91 of rain Bakersfield recorded overnight, their storm total is 1.60, meaning this storm dumped one-fourth of their entire annual average precipitation amount. Bakersfield is actually above average now for precipitation. Individual rain fall amounts at many other locations are in the rainfall discussion below.
The center of circulation of this blockbuster storm is now over the Channel Islands. The counterclockwise circulation around the low now has winds aloft out of the east/southeast. Yet another batch of precipitation is flowing northwestward through southern California and into Kern County. Interestingly enough, this is the wettest storm of the season and it occurred in an off-season month. Go figure!
Models show this system moving slowly eastward across southern California tonight, centering it somewhere in southern Nevada Thursday. This will reduce the chance of showers, but showers cannot be ruled out through Thursday evening, especially in the south valley. Some models actually indicate the possibility of another half-inch of rain over the valley portion of Kern County.
To our south, 3 to 5 inches have fallen over many locations in the southern California mountains.
By late Thursday night or early Friday, some models show the low drifting into extreme southwest Arizona, pulling the storm far enough to the south to call for a dry forecast for Friday. Showers will still continue in parts of southern California, however.
A large blocking ridge of high pressure will build along the Pacific coast beginning Friday and will dominate our pattern through at least the middle of next week. California will be on the eastern flank of this high, putting us under a northwest flow aloft. Medium range models are also pointing to dry weather, although there is the possibility of a low being off shore about next Thursday or Friday. At this time, it looks insignificant.
Forecast: Periods of showers through Thursday. A chance of showers for a time Thursday night. partly cloudy Friday. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Friday night through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 62/47/61/46/68 | Reedley 62/48/61/47/68 | Dinuba 61/46/60/45/67 | |
| Porterville 61/46/60/45/67 | Lindsay 62/45/61/46/68 | Delano 60/48/60/45/67 | |
| Bakersfield 58/50/60/48/69 | Taft 60/51/60/48/69 | Arvin 58/47/60/47/69 | |
| Lamont 59/48/60/47/68 | Pixley 61/46/61/46/67 | Tulare 61/45/61/46/67 | |
| Woodlake 62/46/61/46/68 | Hanford 62/48/61/46/68 | Orosi 61/45/61/45/66 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Mostly clear 45/73 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 49/78 |
Monday
Mostly clear 47/77 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 49/81 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 48/79 |
Two Week Outlook: April 15 through April 21: This model indicates a large high over the eastern Pacific and western U.S., resulting in above average temperatures. The chance of precipitation will be very low.
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 Thursday. Winds Thursday night through Saturday will be generally at or less than 12 MPH late mornings and afternoons and less than 6 MPH during the night and early morning hours with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain Discussion: The following are storm totals as of 6:30 at most locations this morning. Bakersfield 1.60, Mettler .81, Taft 1.48, Lamont .83, Buttonwillow .90, Delano 1.59, Porterville 1.55, Belridge 1.36, Blackwell Corners 1.15, Exeter 1.54, Visalia 1.12, Parlier .83, Reedley .82, Del Rey 1.11, Orange Cove 1.11, Fresno 1.14, Madera 1.19.
Rainfall totals over the foothills and mountains are generally in the 2 to 4 inch range. Kaiser Point above Huntington Lake picked up 5.12, all in the form of snow.
Doppler radar shows a huge swath of precipitation moving from southeast to northeast through inland southern California and into Kern County. There are high resolution models indicating the Kern County portion of the valley could pick up an additional half inch rain through tonight with lesser amounts further north.
The risk of showers remains high Thursday, though they will be more widely scattered. The low should finally be far enough to the southeast for dry weather to return Friday. Dry weather will continue for the following week and possibly longer.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 40s to the lower 50s. Kern, mid to upper 40s. Humidity values ranging from 60%/100% at Hanford. Bakersfield 65%/95%
Actual Humidity range April 7, 2020: Delano, 97%/57%, Porterville, 97%/56%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 10%, tomorrow 30%. Bakersfield: Today: 0% Tomorrow: 20%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.18, Parlier 1.02, Blackwell Corner 1.07, Arvin 1.23, Orange Cove .97, Porterville 1.02, Delano 1.03. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 58, Parlier 59, Blackwell 61, Arvin, 61, Orange Cove 60, Porterville 62, Delano 60
Record Temperatures: 95/35. Average Temperatures: 72/45
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 0 -6
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 56.4 -1.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average + or 6.97 or -3.03. Month to Date: 1.11 +.83
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 6.01, or +.34. Month to Date: .1.60 +1.43
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Shafter, Stratford, Delano, Lindcove, Porterville
Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:32, Sunset: 7:29 pm. Hours of Daylight: 12:54
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 66 / 37 / T /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 66 / 38 / 0.14 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 66 / 47 / 0.07 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 67 / 46 / T /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 66 / 40 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 64 / 46 / 0.07 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 65 / 46 / T /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1654 / 63 / 40 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 65 / 45 / 0.01 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1650 / 59 / 44 / 0.12 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 65 / 39 / M /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.88 63 15.68 126 12.47 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.82 60 12.03 106 11.39 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.23 86 11.84 110 10.79 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.46 53 9.75 94 10.35 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.95 70 9.22 92 10.00 11.50
HANFORD T 5.85 67 7.49 86 8.71 10.10
BAKERSFIELD T 5.10 89 5.90 103 5.74 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.89 46 7.55 183 4.13 5.18
SALINAS T 8.97 78 12.25 106 11.56 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 10.79 92 14.00 119 11.73 12.78
SANTA MARIA T 9.72 76 14.47 113 12.76 13.95
Next report: April 9/morning