April 27, 2020
Summary: A number of locations on the valley floor hit 90 over the weekend for the first time this season. Temperatures this morning, however, are generally down from 3 to 6 degrees from yesterday’s readings. This is due to a marginal weakening of the high due to a weak wave of low pressure currently moving through the Pacific Northwest. High clouds from this feature have spread as far south as a Bay Area/Tahoe line. The general flow in the upper atmosphere, however, is west to east so the vast majority of this cloud cover will remain in northern California.
Just as quickly as this trough moves eastward, high pressure will rebound tonight through Wednesday. In fact, the center of the high will be just off the southern California coast, resulting in temperatures once again eclipsing the 90 degree mark. Warmest locations Wednesday afternoon will rise into the mid 90s.
Springtime, of course, is a time of significant swings in temperatures. The other end of the pendulum swing will occur later this week as a more significant trough of low pressure slowly approaches the west coast beginning Thursday. The trough will finally move inland during the weekend, allowing temperatures to trend back to seasonal averages. Models do show a chance of light showers over the mountains of northern California during the second half of the weekend, but no precipitation is expected for the valley.
Next week looks to be a comfortable week as a flat zone of high pressure again takes shape over the eastern Pacific, keeping the storm track well north of central California. Even though another warming trend will occur, 90 plus degree weather is not expected.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday. Mostly clear Thursday night through Friday night. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Saturday through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 83/55/90/58/92 | Reedley 85/56/90/58/92 | Dinuba 83/53/89/57/91 | |
| Porterville 85/55/89/59/93 | Lindsay 85/55/89/58/93 | Delano 86/58/90/60/93 | |
| Bakersfield 86/61/89/65/94 | Taft 84/64/90/66/93 | Arvin 86/59/90/64/94 | |
| Lamont 86/59/90/63/94 | Pixley 85/56/90/59/93 | Tulare 84/54/89/58/91 | |
| Woodlake 85/54/90/58/91 | Hanford 85/56/89/59/93 | Orosi 84/54/89/58/92 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 57/88 |
Friday
Mostly clear 50/83 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 46/79 |
Sunday
Partly cloudy 47/79 |
Monday
Partly cloudy 43/78 |
Two Week Outlook: April May 1 through May 7: 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 this afternoon will be out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts through this evening. Winds Tuesday through Wednesday will be generally at or less than 15 MPH and generally less than 7 MPH during the late evening through mid morning hours. Winds Thursday will be out of the northwest at 10 to 15 MPH with stronger gusts.
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%/70%
Actual Humidity range April 26, 2020: Delano, 90%/38%, Porterville, 90%/33%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford NA, Parlier 1.40, Blackwell Corner 1.48, Arvin 1.51, Orange Cove 1.31, Porterville 1.40, Delano 1.50. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford NA, Parlier 66, Blackwell 65, Arvin, 67, Orange Cove 66, Porterville 70, Delano 69
Record Temperatures: 98/36. Average Temperatures: 78/49
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 36 +7
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for April so far: 61.6 +1.4
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.51 or -3.06. Month to Date: 1.65 +.80
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.02, or +.98. Month to Date: 2.61 +2.14
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: 6:08, Sunset: 7:45 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:36
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 88 / 55 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 89 / 56 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 90 / 63 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 91 / 60 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 91 / 58 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DHM / 89 / 64 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 89 / 58 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / 85 / 60 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 90 / 57 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1653 / 88 / 68 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.99 61 15.79 121 13.06 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 57 12.06 101 11.98 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.34 82 11.87 104 11.37 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.81 53 9.84 90 10.96 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.51 71 9.47 90 10.57 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.51 71 7.67 83 9.22 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.02 116 5.94 98 6.04 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 52 7.55 176 4.29 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.00 74 12.31 102 12.11 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.34 94 14.10 116 12.11 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.39 78 14.53 109 13.33 13.95
Next report: April 28/morning