September 24, 2020
National Cherries Jubilee Day
Summary: A weak zonal flow continues to move into the Pacific Northwest while a flat zone of upper level high pressure covers the offshore waters of California and roughly the southern two thirds of California. Most locations were in the low to mid 90s yesterday. The exceptions were Porterville and Visalia where no doubt a layer of smoke played a factor.
Minor cooling will occur over the next 36 hours as the high weakens in response to yet another disturbance moving into the Pacific Northwest. Most locations will drop into the mid to upper 80s Friday. However, mid summer conditions will return as early as Sunday as a strong upper high develops off the Oregon/northern California coast. It will center over Oregon and northern California late Sunday through Tuesday. Eventually, a massive high will stretch from southeast to northwest, building a ridge northward all the way to Canada while a deep trough of low pressure digs southward into the middle of the country.
These amplified patterns are not all that unusual in the fall season. They generally result in temperatures a good 10 to 15 degrees above average. The high will slowly begin to weaken out and flatten somewhat on Thursday and Friday of next week. But even then, a variation of the amplified pattern will continue all the way into next weekend for above average temperatures.
With strong upper level high pressure again capping the valley, no doubt smoke will become a big problem again next week.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Sunday. Mostly clear skies Sunday night through Thursday.
Short Term:
| Madera 90/54/85/51/89 | Reedley 91/54/85/52/89 | Dinuba 90/53/84/51/88 |
| Porterville 91/54/85/52/89 | Lindsay 91/53/85/51/88 | Delano 92/58/86/58/89 |
| Bakersfield 92/62/86/62/90 | Taft 91/65/86/64/90 | Arvin 92/57/86/55/90 |
| Lamont 91/58/86/56/90 | Pixley 91/54/85/53/89 | Tulare 90/54/85/51/88 |
| Woodlake 91/54/85/52/88 | Hanford 92/56/85/54/89 | Orosi 91/54/85/51/88 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Sunday
Mostly clear 52/97 |
Monday
Mostly clear 62/100 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 63/101 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 60/99 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 58/93 |
Two Week Outlook: October 1 through October 7: This model is indicating a strong ridge of upper level high pressure will be over the western one-third of the U.S. for very dry conditions. Temperatures will remain above to possibly well above average.
September: This model is indicating basically the western half of the United States will have above average temperatures, continuing the trend of the summer season into the early fall. This model shows near average precipitation, which is minimal at best anyway.
September, October, November: This model always indicates above average temperatures for the western U.S. and this time around is no exception. As we head into the autumn season this model is indicating there will be equal chances of above or below precipitation.
Winds Discussion: Later this afternoon through early Friday evening, winds will be generally out of the west/northwest at 8 to 15 MPH. Locally stronger gusts are possible from Fresno County north and along the west side. From Friday night through Sunday, winds during the night and morning hours will be less than 6 MPH and will be less than 10 MPH with periods of near calm conditions during the late morning through afternoon.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 74%/22%, Porterville, 92%/22%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 100%. Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.31, Parlier 1.12, Blackwell Corner 1.26, Arvin 1.45, Orange Cove 1.19, Porterville .98, Delano 1.18. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 73, Parlier 74, Blackwell 86, Arvin, 76, Orange Cove 79, Porterville 73, Delano 71
Record Temperatures: 102/46. Average Temperatures: 89/57
Cooling Degree Days This Season: 2011 +465
Courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for September So Far: 76.9 +2.6
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno/average + or -. 7.63 or -3.80. Month to Date: .T -.10
Since Oct 1, 2019, Fresno, 7.63 -3.69. 7.20, or +.84. Bakersfield, 7.20 +.76. Month to Date: .T -.05
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: 6:50 Sunset: 6:50 pm Hours of Daylight: 12:03
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 93 / 52 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 94 / 50 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 93 / 62 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 92 / 53 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 93 / 55 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 90 / 66 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 89 / 54 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 87 / 56 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 91 / 61 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 8.35 60 18.60 133 13.96 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.94 53 13.47 104 13.01 13.11
MERCED 0.00 9.54 77 13.27 107 12.42 12.50
MADERA 0.00 6.02 50 11.42 96 11.94 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 7.63 67 11.85 104 11.43 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 6.62 66 9.50 95 10.05 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 7.20 112 7.82 121 6.44 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 2.25 44 8.48 166 5.11 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 9.18 72 13.89 109 12.76 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 11.47 90 14.88 117 12.69 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 10.66 77 15.68 113 13.90 13.95
Next report: September 25/morning