April 24, 2020
Summary: Relatively strong upper level high pressure remains over the eastern Pacific. The high will marginally shift further east during the next 24 hours with high pressure aloft reaching its pinnacle Saturday. this will allow many locations on the valley floor to reach the 90 degree mark for the first time this spring season. This is nowhere near record territory, however, as records are now running in the lower 100s.
A weak trough of low pressure will move through the Pacific Northwest Saturday night and Sunday, marginally weakening the high and allowing temperatures to fall back into the mid to upper 80s. this is still well above average.
As soon as the trough moves eastward Sunday, the high over the eastern Pacific will regenerate and begin to shift slowly eastward to a position just off the southern California coast Tuesday. This will allow readings to rebound with warmest locations moving into the mid 90s. Wednesday should turn out to be the warmest day of the entire warm episode we’re moving into.
The high will finally begin to shift eastward Thursday for the beginning of a slow cooling trend. Models are still pointing towards a trough of low pressure moving through next weekend which should allow temperatures to return closer to average. This trough, however, does not appear to be significant enough for precipitation.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Monday. Mostly clear Monday night through Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 88/54/90/55/86 | Reedley 88/54/91/55/87 | Dinuba 86/54/90/55/86 | |
| Porterville 88/55/91/56/88 | Lindsay 88/53/90/54/88 | Delano 88/59/91/59/87 | |
| Bakersfield 89/62/91/64/87 | Taft 88/66/91/66/87 | Arvin 89/59/92/59/88 | |
| Lamont 88/59/91/60/87 | Pixley 88/55/91/56/87 | Tulare 86/53/89/54/87 | |
| Woodlake 87/53/90/54/87 | Hanford 88/56/91/57/88 | Orosi 87/53/90/54/86 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Monday
Mostly clear 53/84 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 56/93 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 57/94 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 57/87 |
Friday
Mostly clear 52/82 |
Two Week Outlook: April 28 through May 4: This model indicates a dominant ridge of upper level high pressure will be over the eastern Pacific and California, resulting in above average temperatures. The chance of rain during this timeframe appears to be very low.
May: The first month of the dry season will be typically dry, in other words this model is portraying near average precipitation for the month of May. It also appears the trend of above average temperatures will continue for the month.
May, June, July: Obviously, over the next 90 days precipitation will be largely nonexistent with the usual few exceptions, mainly during the month of May. Models show the western half of the U.S. having generally above average temperatures.
Winds Discussion: Winds will pick up a bit this afternoon and evening at 10 to 15 MPH with localized gusts over 25 MPH possible. Winds Saturday through Monday will be generally at or less than 15 MPH during the late morning through the evening hours and less than 7 MPH during the late evening through early morning hours.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Low to mid 50s. Humidity values ranging from 25%/80% at Hanford. Bakersfield 25%/75%
Actual Humidity range April 23, 2020: Delano, 90%/45%, Porterville, 92%/39%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 100%. Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford NA, Parlier 1.13, Blackwell Corner 1.09, Arvin 1.09, Orange Cove .98, Porterville .94, Delano 1.11. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 61, Parlier 64, Blackwell 63, Arvin, 65, Orange Cove 65, Porterville 67, Delano 64
Record Temperatures: 101/36. Average Temperatures: 77/48
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 11 -12
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 60.1 +.03
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.51 or -2.98. Month to Date: 1.65 +.88
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.02, or +1.02. Month to Date: 2.61 +2.18
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: 6:11, Sunset: 7:43 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:29
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 85 / 56 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 86 / 55 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 86 / 59 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 87 / 57 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 87 / 53 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 84 / 59 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 84 / 54 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / 83 / 56 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 84 / 54 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1652 / 81 / 64 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 84 / 58 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.99 62 15.79 122 12.98 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 58 12.06 101 11.89 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.34 83 11.87 105 11.28 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.81 53 9.84 91 10.86 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.51 72 9.47 90 10.49 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.51 71 7.67 84 9.14 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.02 117 5.94 99 6.00 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 53 7.55 177 4.27 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.00 75 12.31 102 12.05 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.34 94 14.10 117 12.06 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.39 78 14.53 110 13.26 13.95
Next report: April 25/morning