April 11, 2020
Summary: The historic six day storm is now out of the picture for central California. The center of circulation is now over southwest Arizona and will accelerate eastward, triggering a severe weather outbreak in the Midwest and the south. The flow at the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere behind this system is out of the north. The uplift of the Sierra Nevada and the Kern County mountains has caused a large number of upslope clouds this morning. the sounding above Bakersfield indicated the base of the cloud deck is at 4,400 feet and 4,500 feet over Porterville and Visalia. Drier air will feed in from the north, slowly dissipating these clouds as the day wears on, resulting in mostly clear skies this afternoon.
A large ridge of upper level high pressure now covers the eastern Pacific with a ridge extending into the Gulf of Alaska. California is on the far western side of this high. A weak disturbance will race southward through Nevada Sunday and Monday, generating scattered showers over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, but the valley will remain precipitation free.
The high will dominate our pattern through at least Wednesday night then there are many model differences beginning with Thursday’s forecast. Models place some kind of low off the northern or central coast, some as early as Thursday while others wait until the weekend. For now, we’ll go with a dry forecast until some kind of consensus develops on model information. We may have to reintroduce showers to the forecast down the road. Until then, though, enjoy some very pleasant spring weather.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy this morning. clearing this afternoon. Mostly clear tonight through Wednesday night. partly cloudy Thursday through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 72/47/74/49/75 | Reedley 72/48/74/50/75 | Dinuba 71/47/74/49/73 | |
| Porterville 72/47/75/49/75 | Lindsay 71/46/74/48/75 | Delano 71/51/74/52/75 | |
| Bakersfield 70/55/75/56/65 | Taft 71/53/75/56/74 | Arvin 70/50/75/52/75 | |
| Lamont 70/50/75/52/74 | Pixley 71/48/74/50/74 | Tulare 71/46/73/49/74 | |
| Woodlake 72/46/74/48/74 | Hanford 72/49/74/50/75 | Orosi 72/45/74/48/74 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 51/75 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 51/78 |
Thursday
Partly cloudy 48/80 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 51/79 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 47/72 |
Two Week Outlook: April 18 through April 24: 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 during the late morning through early evening hours will be generally less than 12 MPH. Winds during the night and early morning hours will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Tuesday.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions through Wednesday and more than likely well beyond.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern, low to mid 50s. Humidity values ranging from 45%/95% at Hanford. Bakersfield 50%/90%
Actual Humidity range April 10, 2020: Delano, 99%/52%, Porterville, 98%/50%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 60%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 30% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford .92, Parlier .78, Blackwell Corner .84, Arvin .85, Orange Cove .74, Porterville .74, Delano .75. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 58, Parlier 59, Blackwell 60, Arvin, 60, Orange Cove 60, Porterville 61, Delano 57
Record Temperatures: 95/34. Average Temperatures: 73/45
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 0 -9
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 55.6 -2.7
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average + or 7.34 or -2.77. Month to Date: 1.48 +1.09
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 6.92, or +1.12. Month to Date: 2.51 +2.28
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: 6:28, Sunset: 7:31 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:01
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 69 / 43 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 69 / 41 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 68 / 45 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 69 / 40 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 69 / 39 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 67 / 48 / 0.01 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 66 / 42 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1654 / 67 / 41 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 66 / 41 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1654 / 65 / 48 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 70 / 48 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.04 7.98 63 15.68 125 12.58 14.06
MODESTO 0.01 6.86 60 12.03 105 11.49 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.31 86 11.84 109 10.87 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.73 55 9.75 93 10.44 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.34 73 9.22 91 10.11 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.46 73 7.49 85 8.79 10.10
BAKERSFIELD T 6.92 119 5.90 102 5.80 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.20 53 7.55 181 4.17 5.18
SALINAS T 8.97 77 12.25 105 11.67 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.30 96 14.00 119 11.80 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.38 81 14.47 112 12.87 13.95
Next report: April 13/morning