May 4, 2020
Summary: A large area of low pressure continues to reside in the Gulf of Alaska while a zonal, or westerly, flow continues underneath this feature across the eastern Pacific and into California. This regime typically results in fairly seasonal conditions for central California, although models are indicating marginal increases in pressure aloft through midweek.
A weak ripple of low pressure will move through Wednesday, blunting a major warming trend which will occur after midweek. Beginning Wednesday night, upper level high pressure will start to take shape over the eastern Pacific. It will build a ridge northward as far north as the Gulf of Alaska. This will result in another round of 90+ degree weather. There is some indication that the hottest locations over the weekend may reach into the upper 90s.
The next cooling trend probably will not begin until at least next Monday, if not later, as some models show a low developing off the northern California coast, displacing the high into the Rocky Mountain region.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday. Mostly clear and warmer Thursday night through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 83/48/86/53/87 | Reedley 84/49/87/54/87 | Dinuba 83/48/86/54/86 | |
| Porterville 84/48/88/54/87 | Lindsay 83/47/86/53/85 | Delano 84/51/88/56/87 | |
| Bakersfield 84/55/87/57/85 | Taft 83/56/87/59/85 | Arvin 84/51/87/55/86 | |
| Lamont 84/51/87/55/85 | Pixley 83/50/87/54/87 | Tulare 83/49/85/53/86 | |
| Woodlake 82/50/86/53/86 | Hanford 83/50/87/55/87 | Orosi 82/48/85/53/86 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 53/88 |
Friday
Mostly clear 55/91 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 58/97 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 60/96 |
Monday
Mostly clear 58/90 |
Two Week Outlook: May 11 through May 17: This model actually gives at least a marginal hope for rain during this time frame, especially over the Sierra Nevada, but it also continues the trend of above average temperatures.
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 during the afternoon and evening hours will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 MPH. Winds during the night and morning hours will be generally variable to no more than 7 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Thursday.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 30s. Kern: Low to mid 30s. Humidity values ranging from 15%/65% at Hanford. Bakersfield 15%/55%
Actual Humidity range May 3, 2020: Delano, 86%/39%, Porterville, 93%/33%
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 1.76, Blackwell Corner 1.68, Arvin 1.86, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 1.64, Delano 1.67. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford NA, Parlier 69, Blackwell 72, Arvin, 71, Orange Cove 70, Porterville 76, Delano 74
Record Temperatures: 100/39. Average Temperatures: 81/51
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 84 +40
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for May so far: 69.3 +4.0
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.51 or -3.23. Month to Date: .00 -.07
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.02, or +.90. Month to Date: .00 -.03
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: 6:00, Sunset: 7:51 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:50
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 79 / 56 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 81 / 54 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 81 / 57 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 81 / 56 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 82 / 54 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 80 / 56 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 81 / 54 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1653 / 79 / 52 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 80 / 51 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1650 / 77 / 58 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.99 60 15.79 119 13.22 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 56 12.06 99 12.16 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.34 81 11.87 103 11.58 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.81 52 9.84 88 11.14 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.51 70 9.47 88 10.74 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.51 69 7.67 82 9.38 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.02 115 6.00 98 6.12 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 52 7.55 174 4.33 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.00 74 12.31 101 12.24 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.34 93 14.11 116 12.21 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.39 77 14.77 110 13.47 13.95
Next report: May 5/morning