November 17, 2020
Summary: A band of light showers is moving on shore along and ahead of a cold front which will move through the valley late tonight and early Wednesday. as mentioned before, downslope winds blowing off the north facing slopes of the Tehachapi’s have not caused many issues with wind on the valley floor. However, the compressional effect of these downslope winds has been monumental. At 1:00pm, the temperature had soared to a record 86 degrees at Meadows Field in Bakersfield. this hot, dry air has also moved into southern Tulare County where the Porterville Airport is reporting 84 degrees. All locations from Visalia/Hanford north are reporting readings in the 70s.
Measurable rain in Kern County and possibly southern Tulare County is unlikely as dew points have dropped into the 20s. the chance for light showers north of roughly a Hanford/Visalia line seems possible, mainly after midnight tonight through tomorrow morning.
The front has definitely slowed down and will not exit central California until late Wednesday afternoon. A cooler west/northwest flow will swing in behind the front with temperatures in the south valley Wednesday ending up 20 to 25 degrees cooler than today. A zonal flow will continue through the weekend. That same flow will move a system through Friday night and Saturday morning with little fanfare.
The storm track will migrate into British Columbia and western Washington this weekend. After Wednesday, rain is unlikely for at least 7 and possibly as much as 10 days with seasonal temperatures.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy tonight with a chance of light showers, mainly from roughly a Hanford/Visalia line north. Light showers likely from that line north Wednesday morning, tapering off with mostly cloudy skies later Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday afternoon through next Tuesday with patchy night and morning fog.
Short Term:
Madera 48/62/43/61 | Reedley 48/65/42/62 | Dinuba 47/64/42/62 | |
Porterville 50/65/42/61 | Lindsay 48/65/41/61 | Delano 50/65/43/62 | |
Bakersfield 52/64/52/59 | Taft 52/64/50/60 | Arvin 49/63/46/59 | |
Lamont 47/65/44/61 | Pixley 48/64/42/62 | Tulare 47/64/43/62 | |
Woodlake 46/65/41/61 | Hanford 49/65/42/62 | Orosi 46/74/41/62 |
Winds: Winds through the late evening hours will be mainly out of the south to southwest at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts. After midnight and through Wednesday, winds will be mainly out of the west to southwest at 8to 15 with locally stronger gusts. Winds Wednesday evening will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 10 MPH, becoming light to near calm after midnight. Winds Thursday and Friday will be mainly variable to 10 MPH late mornings and afternoons and 5 MPH nights through midmorning with extended periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: As expected, significant downslope heating has occurred off the Kern County mountains and down to the valley floor, resulting in very dry and very warm air. So, even if showers occur aloft, it’s doubtful any precipitation will reach the ground over the valley portion of Kern County and roughly south of Porterville in Tulare County. Elsewhere, light showers will spread in from the west/northwest tonight, continuing Wednesday morning then tapering off by early afternoon.
Rainfall amounts will generally be less than .10 in northern Tulare County and Kings County and anywhere from .10 to .25 is possible in eastern Fresno and Madera Counties. Once these showers come to an end Wednesday afternoon, the next seven to possibly ten days will be dry.
Frost: All locations will be well above 32 degrees tonight and again Wednesday night and Thursday morning. depending on the amount of cloud cover from Friday morning to Monday morning, the very coldest river bottom and similar locations may tease with the freezing mark, but no significant frost is expected. Most locations will range from 31 to 34 or so. Currently, there is nothing on medium range models suggesting a pattern that would result in hazardous conditions.
Lows Tonight:
Terra Bella
Af |
Porterville
Af |
Ivanhoe
Af |
Woodlake
Af |
Strathmore
Af |
McFarland
Af |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
Af |
Lindsay
Af |
Exeter
32 |
Famoso
Af |
Madera
Af |
Belridge
Af |
Delano
Af |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
Af |
Orange Cove
Af |
Lindcove
Af |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
Af |
Root creek
Af |
Venice hill
Af |
Rosedale
Af |
Jasmine
Af |
Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
Af |
Mettler
Af |
Edison
Af |
Maricopa
Af |
Holland Creek
Af |
Tivy Valley
Af |
Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
Af |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: November 18/morning