April 14, 2020
Summary: A ridge of upper level high pressure is aligned from north to south along the California coast with a ridge jutting northward along the British Columbia coast. A weak wave of low pressure moved rapidly down the Sierra Nevada late yesterday and is in southern California this morning. it did manage to spawn a few showers over the high country, but had minimal effect on the San Joaquin Valley.
The off shore high will begin to shift inland today, resulting in a warming trend which will push the mercury above the 80 degree mark in the warmest locations, mainly Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, a rather compact low pressure system will move southward out of the Gulf of Alaska will be a few hundred miles west of the Golden Gate Wednesday night. eventually, it will move through extreme southern California Friday. It will be a bit of a tricky forecast Friday and Friday night as the low slide southward off shore just as a trough of low pressure dives into the Great Basin.
The chance of showers over the mountain areas appears to be relatively high and I wouldn’t completely rule out a few showers over the valley floor, mainly Friday afternoon and night.
As that system moves to the east, another more substantial low will develop off the coast of the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. This will cause a trough to extend down into northern and central California late Sunday and Monday. The risk of showers appears higher with this system as it moves inland through southern Oregon and northern California Monday afternoon into Tuesday. After Tuesday, a ridge of high pressure will build in for a return to dry weather.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday night. partly cloudy Friday and Friday night. there will be a chance of a few showers Friday afternoon and Friday night. partly cloudy Saturday and Saturday night. increasing cloudiness Sunday with a chance of showers Sunday night through Monday night. partly cloudy Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 77/44/79/48/80 | Reedley 78/45/80/49/80 | Dinuba 77/44/79/48/79 | |
| Porterville 77/44/80/48/81 | Lindsay 78/43/79/48/81 | Delano 77/49/80/50/81 | |
| Bakersfield 77/51/80/54/81 | Taft 78/53/79/55/81 | Arvin 78/49/80/51/82 | |
| Lamont 78/49/79/52/81 | Pixley 77/45/80/50/81 | Tulare 76/43/79/48/79 | |
| Woodlake 77/44/79/49/80 | Hanford 78/47/80/50/80 | Orosi 77/43/79/47/79 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Friday
Slight chance of showers 52/74 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 49/72 |
Sunday
Increasing clouds 51/73 |
Monday
Chance of showers 51/72 |
Tuesday
Partly cloudy 45/72 |
Two Week Outlook: April 21 through April 27: 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 Friday.
Rain Discussion: We need to add a minimal chance of a few showers for Friday afternoon and night due to a weak upper low moving southward just off shore. Current thinking is that most locations will remain dry and any location that does receive precipitation will record less than .10. the chance of rain again appears for Sunday night through Monday night from a larger and more organized weather system which will move through Oregon and northern California. This by no means appears to be a major rain maker, just one that could spread light showers over the valley, especially from Fresno County north. Dry weather will return Tuesday and continue for the remainder of next week.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern, mid to upper 40s. Humidity values ranging from 30%/80% at Hanford. Bakersfield 35%/75%
Actual Humidity range April 13, 2020: Delano, 92%/57%, Porterville, 96%/52%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 90%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.03, Parlier .89, Blackwell Corner .96, Arvin .84, Orange Cove .87, Porterville .85, Delano .91. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 58, Parlier 61, Blackwell 60, Arvin, 60, Orange Cove 60, Porterville 61, Delano 58
Record Temperatures: 98/36. Average Temperatures: 74/46
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 0 -12
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 57.0 -1.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average + or 7.34 or -2.86. Month to Date: 1.48 +1.00
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 6.92, or +1.07. Month to Date: 2.51 +2.23
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: 6:24, Sunset: 7:34 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:07
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 74 / 49 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 72 / 48 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 71 / 53 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 73 / 50 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 74 / 49 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 73 / 57 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 62 / 54 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / 72 / 49 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 74 / 55 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DHM / 73 / 56 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 72 / 52 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.98 63 15.68 124 12.68 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 59 12.03 104 11.59 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.31 85 11.84 108 10.95 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.73 54 9.75 93 10.53 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.34 72 9.22 90 10.20 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.46 73 7.49 85 8.86 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 6.92 118 5.90 101 5.85 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.20 53 7.55 180 4.19 5.18
SALINAS T 8.97 76 12.25 104 11.77 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.30 95 14.00 118 11.87 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.01 10.39 80 14.47 112 12.97 13.95
Next report: April 15/morning