May 12, 2020
Summary: At the upper levels of the atmosphere, a cold low is making its move into the Pacific Northwest. At the surface, a weak cold front extends from northern Utah southwestward through Kern County and out to sea off the coast of Ventura County. A few light showers have been showing up along the front. In fact, at this hour there are sprinkles occurring over the valley portion of Kern County and over the Kern County mountains. The freezing level above us has gone from nearly 15,000 feet over the weekend to 8,100 feet early this morning, so light snow is falling down to roughly 7,500 feet or so.
As the front continues to move deeper into southern California, the chance for sprinkles will end with the exception of the higher elevations where lift may keep showers going for the remainder of the day. Temperatures yesterday were a good 10 degrees cooler than the previous day with additional cooling on tap for today and Wednesday as readings settle into the mid to upper 70s. a minor warming trend will occur Friday and Saturday as a weak ridge of upper level high pressure moves in from the west. In fact, a west to east flow will be dominant for the remainder of the week across the eastern Pacific and into California.
By early next week, another significant low pressure system will be off the southern Oregon/northern California coast. It appears this storm will be similar to the current system in its characteristics with only a minor threat of light showers as far south as Fresno County Monday. Another downturn in temperatures can be expected early next week.
Forecast: Variable cloudiness today. A few light showers are possible this morning in the south valley. Partly cloudy tonight and Wednesday, but possibly remaining mostly cloudy over the valley portion of Kern County into Wednesday morning. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday afternoon through Saturday night. variable cloudiness Sunday and Monday with a slight chance of showers Monday from Fresno County north. Partly cloudy Monday night and Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 78/50/78/51/80 | Reedley 77/51/78/52/80 | Dinuba 76/50/77/50/79 | |
| Porterville 78/51/78/52/81 | Lindsay 77/50/78/51/81 | Delano 78/53/78/54/80 | |
| Bakersfield 77/56/77/56/79 | Taft 78/58/78/58/79 | Arvin 79/54/77/55/79 | |
| Lamont 78/54/77/54/79 | Pixley 77/52/78/53/80 | Tulare 76/52/77/53/80 | |
| Woodlake 77/51/77/52/80 | Hanford 78/52/78/53/81 | Orosi 76/50/78/51/79 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Friday
Mostly clear 52/83 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 53/85 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 53/82 |
Monday
Slight chance of showers 54/79 |
Tuesday
Partly cloudy 49/78 |
Two Week Outlook: May 18 through May 24: 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 afternoons and evenings will be generally out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH. local gusts to near 25 MPH are possible, mainly along the Interstate 5 corridor. Winds during the night and morning will be generally variable to around 10 MPH.
Rain Discussion: Sprinkles are occurring as of the time of this writing over the valley portion of Kern County in association with a weakening cold front which is moving through southern California. The chance of measurable rain at any given location is very low this morning and the sprinkles will end over the next few hours, leading into a largely dry day. Dry weather will continue through at least Sunday night. another similar situation will develop early next week as showers spread over northern California Sunday night and possibly into northcentral California Monday. A minimal chance of light showers is possible Monday, mainly from Fresno County northward but, like the current system, the chance of rain at any given location remains very low. After Monday night, long range information indicates the return of a dry weather pattern.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s. Humidity values ranging from 40%/90% at Hanford. Bakersfield 35%/80%
Actual Humidity range May 11, 2020: Delano, 69%/12%, Porterville, 69%/12%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 50%, tomorrow 70%. Bakersfield: Today: 40% Tomorrow: 60%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford NA, Parlier 1.81, Blackwell Corner 2.09, Arvin 1.96, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 1.86, Delano 1.89. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford NA, Parlier 73, Blackwell 75, Arvin, 73, Orange Cove 70, Porterville 78, Delano 78
Record Temperatures: 100/40. Average Temperatures: 84/53
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 133 +65
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for May so far: 71.0 +4.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.51 or -3.36. Month to Date: .00 -.20
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.02, or +.84. Month to Date: .00 -.09
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: 5:52, Sunset: 7:59 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:04
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 84 / 53 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 85 / 52 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 86 / 59 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 87 / 58 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 88 / 53 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 86 / 57 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 85 / 53 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / M / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 86 / 52 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1649 / 85 / 60 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 81 / 51 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.99 60 15.79 118 13.38 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 56 12.06 98 12.35 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.34 79 11.87 101 11.79 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.81 51 9.84 87 11.32 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.51 69 9.49 87 10.87 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.51 68 7.67 81 9.52 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.02 114 6.32 102 6.18 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 51 8.09 185 4.37 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.00 73 12.40 100 12.35 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.34 92 14.12 115 12.30 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.39 77 14.83 109 13.58 13.95
Next report: May 13/morning