May 13, 2020
Summary: Most of the valley is generally clear this morning with the exception of the bulk of Kern County where upsloping is causing cloud cover to bank up against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains. The latest sounding above Meadows Field indicates there are two layers of clouds: one based at 3,800 feet and the second at 6,000 feet. Most of this cloud cover will dissipate as the day wears on.
We now find ourselves in a zonal flow, or a west to east flow, across the eastern Pacific and into California. Low pressure resides off the coast of Washington state and it will move inland today with no real impact on central California. A minor warming trend will occur, especially Thursday through Saturday, as pressures above central California rise somewhat. A new low will approach the northern California coast Sunday, eventually dragging a trough of low pressure across northern and central California. Either Monday or Tuesday, there will be a minor chance of light showers from Fresno County northward again. The major impact, though, will be another round of gusty winds and cooler temperatures, generally Monday through Tuesday of next week.
Speaking of winds, there’s roughly an 11.5 millibar difference in pressure between San Francisco and Las Vegas and a 6.5 millibar difference between Bakersfield and Daggett. This is not horrifically strong, but locally gusty winds along the west side can be expected again this afternoon and evening.
After Tuesday, models indicate there will be a return to high pressure off the California coast with low pressure remaining dominant over and off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. This pattern will result in near to marginally above average temperatures later next week.
Forecast: Other than mostly cloudy skies for a time this morning over Kern County, it will be mostly clear through Sunday. Partly cloudy Sunday night. variable cloudiness Monday through Tuesday with a slight chance of light showers, mainly north of Fresno County. Partly cloudy Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 78/50/81/53/83 | Reedley 79/52/81/53/83 | Dinuba 78/50/80/52/82 | |
| Porterville 79/50/80/52/83 | Lindsay 78/49/81/51/82 | Delano 78/53/81/55/83 | |
| Bakersfield 77/56/80/57/82 | Taft 77/57/80/57/82 | Arvin 78/53/81/54/81 | |
| Lamont 78/53/81/54/82 | Pixley 79/53/81/55/83 | Tulare 78/50/81/52/82 | |
| Woodlake 78/49/80/52/82 | Hanford 79/52/82/53/83 | Orosi 77/48/80/51/82 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Mostly clear 53/86 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 54/81 |
Monday
Slight chance of showers 56/77 |
Tuesday
AM showers possible 49/76 |
Wednesday
Partly cloudy 46/81 |
Two Week Outlook: May 20 through May 26: This model indicates our temperatures will again be near to marginally above average. The main storm track will migrate north of the growing area, so the chance of rain is 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 and evening will be mainly out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with local gusts to near 25 MPH possible, especially along the west side. Winds tonight and each night through Saturday will be at or less than 8 MPH with periods of near calm conditions. Winds Thursday through Saturday afternoon will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 MPH with locally stronger gusts.
Rain Discussion: The next opportunity for measurable rain is a minimal one. Either Monday or Tuesday, depending upon model of choice, precipitation will be mainly confined to Fresno County and points northward and if rain occurs at all, no more than a few hundredths of an inch can be expected. Beyond Tuesday, conditions again look dry.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 30s to the lower 40s. Kern: Upper 30s to the lower 40s. Humidity values ranging from 25%/85% at Hanford. Bakersfield 25%/75%
Actual Humidity range May 12, 2020: Delano, 75%/28%, Porterville, 74%/22%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 50% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford NA, Parlier 1.77, Blackwell Corner 2.10, Arvin 1.94, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 1.82, Delano 1.87. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford NA, Parlier 73, Blackwell 75, Arvin, 73, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 78, Delano 78
Record Temperatures: 103/53. Average Temperatures: 83/53
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 143 +67
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for May so far: 70.7 +4.1
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.51 or -3.37. Month to Date: .00 -.21
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.03, or +.84. Month to Date: .01 -.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: 14:06
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 75 / 60 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 77 / 53 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 79 / 58 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 80 / 55 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 81 / 57 / T /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 80 / 57 / 0.01 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 79 / 55 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1652 / 76 / 59 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 80 / 54 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1651 / 76 / 59 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 73 / 56 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.99 60 15.79 118 13.40 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.86 55 12.06 97 12.37 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.34 79 11.87 100 11.82 12.50
MADERA 0.00 5.81 51 9.84 87 11.34 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.51 69 9.49 87 10.88 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.51 68 7.67 80 9.53 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.01 7.03 114 6.32 102 6.19 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 51 8.09 185 4.37 5.18
SALINAS 0.06 9.06 73 12.40 100 12.36 12.83
PASO ROBLES T 11.34 92 14.12 115 12.31 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.03 10.42 77 14.83 109 13.59 13.95
Next report: May 14/morning