May 9, 2020
Summary: Hottest locations this afternoon will again push into the upper 90s. a strong ridge of high pressure extends from northern Baja due north into western Canada while a large low covers the Gulf of Alaska. The marine layer along the coast marginally deepened overnight, however the latest sounding at Monterey indicates the depth is only 1,000 feet. There is a limited amount of sea breeze moving through the Delta as winds at Traverse AFB are out of the southwest at 19 MPH, but any cooling today will be confined to the Delta region.
The high will begin to shift into the interior west tonight and Sunday as that low in the Gulf of Alaska begins to shift to a position off the Oregon/northern California border Monday. A weakening cold front will begin to move down the valley Tuesday, but it does now appear any precipitation will remain north of a Monterey/Stockton line with light showers down the Sierra Nevada down to Fresno County. We’ll keep a chance of a few sprinkles in the forecast from Fresno north Tuesday, however the main impact of this change will be much cooler temperatures along with increased wind conditions from time to time through midweek.
The low will move inland Tuesday night, allowing a weak ridge to move in from the west Thursday and Friday of next week for a minor warming trend. Medium range models indicate another minor low will approach the California coast Sunday, but no precipitation threat is seen at this time.
Forecast: Mostly clear with occasional high clouds through Monday. Partly cloudy Monday night. variable cloudiness Tuesday through Wednesday with a slight chance of sprinkles from Fresno County north. Mostly clear Wednesday night through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 97/58/91/53/84 | Reedley 98/59/93/54/86 | Dinuba 97/58/92/53/85 | |
| Porterville 98/59/93/54/86 | Lindsay 97/57/93/53/85 | Delano 98/62/94/58/87 | |
| Bakersfield 98/66/94/60/87 | Taft 97/69/94/63/86 | Arvin 98/62/94/58/86 | |
| Lamont 98/62/94/60/86 | Pixley 97/58/94/54/86 | Tulare 96/56/92/53/85 | |
| Woodlake 96/56/93/53/85 | Hanford 98/58/93/55/85 | Orosi 96/56/93/53/85 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Variable clouds 53/78 |
Wednesday
Variable clouds 50/77 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 49/80 |
Friday
Mostly clear 51/82 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 51/83 |
Two Week Outlook: May 16 through May 22: This model still shows a broad area of low pressure over and off the west coast. A considerably higher risk of showers shows up over northern California and to a lesser extent central California. Temperatures will generally be below average.
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 today will be generally less than 12 MPH and mainly out of the northwest this afternoon and evening. By Sunday afternoon, winds will be out of the west then later out of the northwest at 10 to 15 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH possible along the west side of Fresno and Kings Counties. There will be periods of winds mainly out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH Sunday through Tuesday.
Rain Discussion: There is a slight chance of sprinkles Tuesday as a weakening cold front moves down the valley from Fresno County north. However, the chance of measurable rain is very low with dry conditions continuing elsewhere. Expect dry conditions Wednesday and for the rest of next week, as well. Medium range models show another low approaching the California coast a week from tomorrow which will have to be monitored, but we’ll continue with a dry forecast until more data becomes available.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s Kern: Low to mid 40s. Humidity values ranging from 15%/65% at Hanford. Bakersfield 15%/50%
Actual Humidity range May 8, 2020: Delano, 81%/31%, Porterville, 94%/22%
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 1.75, Blackwell Corner 1.77, Arvin 1.85, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 1.72, Delano 1.74. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford NA, Parlier 71, Blackwell 73, Arvin, 72, Orange Cove 70, Porterville 76, Delano 75
Record Temperatures: 101/39. Average Temperatures: 82/52
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 110 +50
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for May so far: 69.6 +3.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.51 or -3.31. Month to Date: .00 -.15
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.02, or +.86. Month to Date: .00 -.07
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: 5:55, Sunset: 7:56 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:59
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 95 / 52 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 96 / 55 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 96 / 62 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 96 / 53 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 98 / 52 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 95 / 63 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 95 / 59 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / 90 / 87 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 95 / 57 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1659 / 96 / 69 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / M / 58 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.99 60 15.79 119 13.32 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 56 12.06 98 12.28 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.34 80 11.87 101 11.71 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.81 52 9.84 87 11.25 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.51 69 9.47 88 10.82 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.51 69 7.67 81 9.47 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.02 114 6.00 97 6.16 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 52 7.55 174 4.35 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.00 73 12.40 101 12.31 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.34 92 14.12 115 12.27 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.39 77 14.82 109 13.54 13.95
Next report: May 11/morning