April 13, 2020
Summary: A large ridge of upper level high pressure covers the eastern Pacific with a ridge extending northward into the Gulf of Alaska. Just to our east is a large trough of low pressure encompassing the interior western U.S. California is on the far eastern rim of the off shore high, putting us in a north northwest flow aloft. The air above central California continues to slowly warm. The freezing level is now up to 10,800 feet. The north/northwest flow aloft continues to generate upslope clouds against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains. The base of the overcast from Visalia southward is between 2,000 and 3,100 feet. Further north, above Fresno, it’s a bit higher at around 5000 feet. These clouds will slowly burn off during the late morning and afternoon hours, resulting in pleasant temperatures.
The high will shift a bit further east over the next 72 hours, increasing pressures aloft and resulting in above average temperatures as we move into the middle part of the week. By Wednesday afternoon, the warmest locations will be pushing the 80 degree mark.
Models show a rather compact low pressure system off the northern California coast late Wednesday night. This feature is projected to move further off shore, eventually moving inland over southern California during the weekend. For now, it appears this feature will remain too far off shore to have much of an impact so we’ll keep the forecast dry for the remainder of the week, although some cooling will occur over the weekend as pressures aloft weaken somewhat.
Medium range models for next week show a weak trough of low pressure moving through, however there’s no real signature for precipitation this far south other than a threat of showers over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy this morning. mostly clear to occasionally cloudy this afternoon. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy tonight through Wednesday night. partly cloudy Thursday through Friday night. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Saturday through Monday.
Short Term:
Madera 73/46/77/46/78 | Reedley 73/45/76/46/78 | Dinuba 72/44/75/45/78 | |
Porterville 73/45/77/45/79 | Lindsay 72/43/76/45/79 | Delano 72/48/77/48/80 | |
Bakersfield 71/52/77/53/80 | Taft 73/53/76/53/79 | Arvin 72/49/77/50/80 | |
Lamont 72/50/76/51/80 | Pixley 72/49/75/49/78 | Tulare 72/47/75/49/78 | |
Woodlake 72/47/76/48/78 | Hanford 72/48/76/48/79 | Orosi 72/45/75/46/78 |
Seven Day Forecast:
Thursday
Partly cloudy 49/80 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 51/78 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 49/73 |
Sunday
Partly cloudy 48/74 |
Monday
Partly cloudy 48/76 |
Two Week Outlook: April 20 through April 26: 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 Thursday.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions through Wednesday and more than likely well beyond.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 40s to the lower 50s. Kern, upper 40s to the lower 50s. Humidity values ranging from 40%/90% at Hanford. Bakersfield 45%/80%
Actual Humidity range April 12, 2020: Delano, 95%/51%, Porterville, 98%/47%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 70%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 60% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford .95, Parlier .88, Blackwell Corner .90, Arvin .79, Orange Cove .86, Porterville .83, Delano .82. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 58, Parlier 60, Blackwell 60, Arvin, 60, Orange Cove 60, Porterville 61, Delano 57
Record Temperatures: 97/34. Average Temperatures: 74/46
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 0 -11
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 56.6 -1.9
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average + or 7.34 or -2.83. Month to Date: 1.48 +1.03
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 6.92, or +1.09. Month to Date: 2.51 +2.25
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: 6:25, Sunset: 7:33 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:05
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 72 / 48 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 72 / 49 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 73 / 55 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 74 / 51 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 74 / 48 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 75 / 55 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 75 / 50 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / 74 / 50 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 76 / 47 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1655 / 76 / 54 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.98 63 15.68 124 12.64 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 59 12.03 104 11.56 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.31 85 11.84 108 10.93 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.73 55 9.75 93 10.50 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.34 72 9.22 91 10.17 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.46 73 7.49 85 8.83 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 6.92 119 5.90 101 5.83 6.47
BISHOP T 2.20 53 7.55 181 4.18 5.18
SALINAS T 8.97 76 12.25 104 11.74 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.30 95 14.00 118 11.85 12.78
SANTA MARIA T 10.38 80 14.47 112 12.94 13.95
Next report: April 14/morning