ay 21, 2020
Summary: Temperatures at this hour are running 3 to 5 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago, both on the valley floor and over the foothills and mountains. The freezing level continues to rise as the latest balloon sounding over Oakland indicated a freezing level of 11,600 feet, up from 8,300 feet 24 hours ago.
Temperatures will warm into the mid 80s today then fall off a few degrees Friday as a low pressure system currently off the Washington coast moves inland through the Pacific Northwest tonight and into the Great Basin Friday. This will sharpen up the difference in pressure between the coast and the interior west so look for an increase in wind conditions Friday through Friday evening, especially along the west side where gusts could reach to 25 to 30 MPH or so.
The low will begin to push into the Rocky Mountain region Friday night and Saturday, setting up the process of allowing strong upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific to move inland. Temperatures Sunday will take a rapid jump with temperatures by Tuesday and Wednesday eclipsing the century mark. Most models are now indicating temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the 100 to 105 degree range as the high will be overhead.
Models also continue to indicate a closed low will set up shop over the eastern Pacific, initially well off shore. Some models show it moving in closer to the coast Friday and Saturday of next week. In theory, this would cause rapid cooling.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Sunday. Mostly clear and warmer Sunday night through Thursday.
Short Term:
Madera 86/52/81/52/87 | Reedley 86/53/81/52/86 | Dinuba 84/51/80/50/85 | |
Porterville 87/52/82/52/85 | Lindsay 86/50/81/49/85 | Delano 87/55/82/52/86 | |
Bakersfield 87/59/83/57/85 | Taft 84/60/82/58/84 | Arvin 87/56/82/54/84 | |
Lamont 87/56/82/54/84 | Pixley 85/51/82/51/86 | Tulare 84/51/81/49/84 | |
Woodlake 84/51/81/49/84 | Hanford 85/55/82/52/85 | Orosi 84/50/81/48/84 |
Seven Day Forecast:
Sunday
Mostly clear 54/90 |
Monday
Mostly clear 61/94 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 64/102 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 65/101 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 60/97 |
Two Week Outlook: May 27 through June 2: This model is actually showing a chance of above average rainfall for the southern half of California and the Desert Southwest, probably due to a projected cut off low situation. Temperatures, however, are expected to remain above seasonal averages.
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 mainly out of the northwest at around 5 to 12 MPH, becoming light and variable tonight. Winds later Friday through Friday evening will be out of the northwest at 10 to 15 MPH at times. Gusts to near 30 MPH are possible, especially in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Winds will decrease and become light and variable again later Friday night. Winds Saturday through Sunday will be mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings at 5 to 12 MPH. During the night and morning hours, winds will be generally at or less than 7 MPH with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid 40s. Kern: Mid 40s. Humidity values ranging from 25%/80% at Hanford. Bakersfield 25%/70%
Actual Humidity range May 20, 2020: Delano, 88%/32%, Porterville, 95%/29%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford NA, Parlier 1.62, Blackwell Corner 1.75, Arvin 1.63, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 1.62, Delano 1.63. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford NA, Parlier 71, Blackwell 76, Arvin, 71, Orange Cove NA, Porterville 76, Delano 75
Record Temperatures: 104/42. Average Temperatures: 86/54
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 163 +45
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for May so far: 69.2 +1.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.63 or -3.35. Month to Date: .12 -.19
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.18, or +.95. Month to Date: .16 +.2
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: 5:46, Sunset: 8:06 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:18
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1600 / 79 / 51 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 78 / 53 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 78 / 53 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 79 / 50 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 80 / 45 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 79 / 53 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 78 / 49 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / 77 / 48 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 79 / 47 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1700 / 76 / 54 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 75 / 52 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 8.33 62 18.10 134 13.53 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.87 55 12.80 102 12.54 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.54 80 13.10 110 11.96 12.50
MADERA 0.00 6.02 52 10.91 95 11.48 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.63 69 11.11 101 10.98 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.62 69 8.69 90 9.63 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.18 115 7.41 119 6.23 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 51 8.37 189 4.42 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.07 73 13.64 110 12.45 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.36 92 14.80 120 12.38 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.53 77 15.55 114 13.66 13.95
Next report: May 22/morning