July 11, 2020
Summary: The heat belt continues to expand towards the north and the west. Strong upper level high pressure is centered near the New Mexico/Arizona border this morning. the balloon sounding above San Diego continues to indicate a southeast flow. However, the flow over central California remains out of the southwest.. the marine layer has shrunk back to 900 feet, according to the latest sounding at Monterey. Winds in the Delta are out of the southwest at just 10 MPH, the latest balloon sounding above Oakland pegs the freezing level at 16,800 feet. In the mountains surrounding the valley, that warm bubble of subsiding air is apparent. As of 6:00am, the temperature at Sandburg at 4,100 feet was 74 degrees while up at Bear Peak in the southern Sierra Nevada, the temperature was 64 at 8,200 feet.
The hottest days in this series will be today through Monday. It appears Sunday will be the hottest of this heat wave. Hottest locations on the valley floor will approach the 110 degree mark. By Monday afternoon, a weak trough of low pressure will drop southward into the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, suppressing the high into eastern Mexico and west Texas by mid week. This will allow temperatures to drop back closer to seasonal averages.
There is some indication on models of the return of the Four Corners high next weekend and beyond. We’ll keep our eyes on this potential development.
Forecast: Clear and hot through Monday. Mostly clear Monday night through Saturday and continued hot.
Short Term:
| Madera 105/67/107/69/105 | Reedley 106/67/107/68/104 | Dinuba 104/66/106/67/104 |
| Porterville 106/67/107/69/105 | Lindsay 105/66/107/68/105 | Delano 107/70/108/72/105 |
| Bakersfield 107/78/108/78/106 | Taft 104/80/106/81/104 | Arvin 107/73/109/74/106 |
| Lamont 106/73/108/74/106 | Pixley 105/67/108/68/105 | Tulare 104/66/107/67/104 |
| Woodlake 104/66/107/67/104 | Hanford 105/68/107/69/105 | Orosi 104/66/106/68/103 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 64/101 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 64/100 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 66/102 |
Friday
Mostly clear 67/103 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 68/103 |
Two Week Outlook: July 19 through July 25: This model shows a trough of low pressure over the Pacific Northwest while upper level high pressure remains over the Desert Southwest. This pattern allows near average temperatures for mid July with typical dry conditions continuing.
July: This model indicates warmer than average temperatures over the next four weeks. The usual dry pattern will prevail in the San Joaquin Valley with the chance of precipitation on any given day being almost nil. Average precipitation for the month is .01.
July, August, September: This time of year, the 90 day out look is no secret. July and August will be hot and dry while September has a minor risk of precipitation, mainly from the tropics. This out look appears fairly typical. Marginally above average temperatures are expected with near average precipitation, which is a meaningless projection.
Winds Discussion: Winds during the afternoons and evenings will be generally out of the northwest at 5 to 12 MPH with locally stronger gusts through Tuesday. winds during the night and morning hours will be generally variable to around 7 MPH with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 40s to the lower 50s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s. Humidity values ranging from 15%/55% at Visalia. Bakersfield 15%/40%
Actual Humidity range July 10, 2020: Delano, 73%/27%, Porterville, 67%/18%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 90%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2.23, Parlier 2.04, Blackwell Corner 2.16, Arvin 2.28, Orange Cove 2.22, Porterville 2.07, Delano 2.02. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 75, Parlier 78, Blackwell NA, Arvin, 79, Orange Cove 83, Porterville 82, Delano 76
Record Temperatures: 110/52. Average Temperatures: 98/64
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 788 +174
Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperature for July so far: 78.8 +0.4
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or 7.63 or -3.69. Month to Date: .00 -.01
Since Oct 1, 2019, Bakersfield: 7.20, or +.85. Month to Date: .00 -.00
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: 5:50, Sunset: 8:19 pm. Hours of Daylight: 14:29
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 101 / 63 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 102 / 60 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 103 / 71 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 102 / 62 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 104 / 59 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 101 / 73 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 100 / 62 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 101 / 64 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 99 / 67 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 8.35 61 18.37 134 13.76 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.94 54 13.35 104 12.83 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.54 78 13.27 109 12.19 12.50
MADERA 0.00 6.02 51 11.42 97 11.74 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.63 67 11.85 105 11.31 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.62 67 9.50 96 9.90 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.20 113 7.80 123 6.35 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 48 8.47 179 4.73 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.16 73 13.80 109 12.63 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.37 91 14.88 120 12.45 12.78
SANTA MARIA T 10.61 77 15.68 114 13.77 13.95
Next report: July 13/morning