November 18, 2020
Summary: A slow moving cold front is currently moving through Tulare and Kern Counties. The front is accompanied by a narrow band of light showers which will move into the Sierra Nevada over the next few hours. Behind the front, cooler and marginally more unstable air is moving in. yesterday was a lesson in meteorological events. Downslope heating off the Kern County mountains resulted in record heat as temperatures almost hit the 90 degree mark in many locations. At Meadows Field at one point, the relative humidity dropped to 9%. As of 6:00am, it had risen to 52%.
Today will be the last day that will present a chance of rain for central California. Through the weekend, a zonal, or westerly, flow will move in from the eastern Pacific and into California, resulting in fairly seasonal temperatures. The freezing level above Oakland indicated it stood at 7,700 feet, down from over 13,000 feet yesterday.
The westerly flow will become more northwesterly Sunday night through Tuesday, spreading in a marginally cooler air mass through the middle of next week. The main storm track will migrate up into British Columbia, even northern California will remain dry.
Forecast: Light showers for a time this morning. a chance of light showers into the early afternoon hours. Mostly to partly cloudy later this afternoon through Thursday morning. mostly clear Thursday afternoon through next Wednesday with occasional periods of mid and high level clouds and patchy night and morning fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 65/41/62/47/59 | Reedley 66/41/61/36/59 | Dinuba 65/40/61/36/58 |
| Porterville 65/40/61/37/59 | Lindsay 66/49/61/36/58 | Delano 66/43/62/39/59 |
| Bakersfield 62/50/61/45/58 | Taft 65/52/60/45/58 | Arvin 62/48/60/42/59 |
| Lamont 62/47/60/42/59 | Pixley 65/41/62/37/60 | Tulare 65/43/62/39/58 |
| Woodlake 65/41/62/35/59 | Hanford 65/45/62/38/60 | Orosi 64/41/61/35/59 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Patchy AM fog/partly cloudy 34/60 |
Sunday
Patchy AM fog/partly cloudy 33/61 |
Monday
Patchy AM fog/partly cloudy 34/62 |
Tuesday
Patchy AM fog/partly cloudy 36/64 |
Wednesday
Patchy AM fog/partly cloudy 36/65 |
Two Week Outlook: November 24 through November 30th: This model covers the last week of November and is calling for seasonal temperatures. Above average rain fall is projected north of Fresno County with below average precip for the remainder of the region.
Winds Discussion: Winds today will be mainly out of the west to northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts, mainly near showers. Winds tonight through Saturday will be at or less than 5 MPH during the night through mid morning hours with periods of near calm conditions. Late mornings and afternoons, winds will be variable to around 10 MPH.
Rain Discussion: A slow moving cold front is currently moving through Kern County and eastern Tulare County. A narrow band of light showers is evident along the frontal band. The precipitation over the next few h ours will move into the southern Sierra Nevada with a few isolated showers possible over the Kern County mountains.
Rainfall totals as of 6:00am: Five Points .02, Lemoore .08, Hanford .01, Fresno .04, Madera .10, Merced .43.
Rainfall amounts from this point on will be less than .10 as any shower activity will be over by early afternoon. Expect dry weather later this afternoon and on through the next week to possibly ten days.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above freezing tonight and on through Friday night. a marginally cooler air mass will move into central California over the weekend as a northwest flow develops along the eastern side of high pressure well off the Pacific coast. The coldest locations Saturday through Monday mornings may drop to 30 to 32 degrees and an isolated pocket could get down to 28 to 29. Most flatland locations will range from 32 to 37 degrees.
Monday through Wednesday of next week, mid 30s to lower 40s are expected, although isolated pockets may dip into the lower 30s. as far as medium range models are concerned, there’s currently nothing suggesting a particularly cold pattern developing for the remainder of this month and into the first couple days of December.
Air Quality Expectations: The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued the following warning(s) for November 18, 2020:
Today’s air quality is listed as good for Merced County. The rest of the valley has moderate air quality.
The District’s Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) can be used to track air quality at any Valley location by visiting myRAAN.com. The option to use a specific address is available.
For more information on wildfires affecting the Valley’s air, visit: http://www.valleyair.org/wildfires
In addition, anyone can follow air quality conditions by downloading the free “Valley Air” app on their mobile device
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 50s. Kern, Low to mid 50s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 99%/20%, Porterville, 95%/15%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 30%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 20% Tomorrow: 50%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford .59, Parlier .52, Blackwell Corners .61, Arvin .71, Orange Cove .53, Porterville .55, Delano .54. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 59, Parlier 55, Blackwell 61, Arvin, 58, Orange Cove 59, Porterville 56, Delano 51
Record Temperatures: 80/27. Average Temperatures: 64/40
Heating Degree Days This Season: 221, -66
Courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 54.51 +0.1
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, .11, -1.10, Month to Date: .11, -.47
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, .39, +or- -.24. Month to date .39, +.06
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 80, Parlier, 96, Arvin, 71, Shafter, 64, Stratford, 93, Delano, 85, Lindcove, 89, Porterville, 113
Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:42 am Sunset: 4:47 pm Hours of Daylight: 10:07
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1600 / 70 / 44 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 76 / 45 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 77 / 50 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 79 / 43 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 80 / 41 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1505 / 87 / 49 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 79 / 44 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 86 / 43 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 76 / 43 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 T 0 0.00 0 1.73 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 T 0 0.00 0 1.38 13.11
MERCED 0.00 0.48 32 0.00 0 1.52 12.50
MADERA 0.00 0.06 4 0.00 0 1.57 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 0.11 9 0.00 0 1.21 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 0.09 8 0.00 0 1.18 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 0.39 62 0.00 0 0.63 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 T 0 0.00 0 0.58 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 0.30 24 0.00 0 1.27 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 0.26 22 0.00 0 1.18 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 0.24 18 0.00 0 1.30 13.95
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
Af |
Porterville
Af |
Ivanhoe
Af |
Woodlake
Af |
| Strathmore
Af |
McFarland
Af |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
Af |
| Lindsay
Af |
Exeter
Af |
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/pm