December 9, 2020
Summary: The closed low off the northwest Baja coastline is beginning to make its move eastward into the northern Baja peninsula. In the meantime, a trough of low pressure is moving into the Pacific Northwest and will dive into the Great Basin by late Thursday. In and out cloud cover tonight should marginally moderate temperatures, which is discussed below in the frost section.
Tomorrow will be the last day of readings in the 60s for a while. As that low dives into the Great Basin Thursday, it will move a dry cold front through central California late Thursday and Thursday night. this will lower daytime highs into the mid to upper 50s, which is about average for this time in December.
Beginning Friday, a series of storms will ride over the top of upper level high pressure off the central and southern California coast. For a change, the flow aloft will be out of the west/northwest. The surface flow will also turn on shore, nudging up dew points over the weekend. As these storms move into the Pacific Northwest and roughly the northern 1/3 of California Saturday through Monday, variable amounts of cloud cover will spread over the valley with, believe it or not, above freezing temperatures beginning Sunday.
Unfortunately, dry conditions will continue. It’s possible a few sprinkles or light showers could spread down to a Merced/Monterey line with the best chance of this occurring being Sunday night. after Monday, a blocking ridge pattern will again develop over the eastern Pacific which, of course, will drive the storm track well to the north. For now, it appears dry weather will continue through at least the 15th of December and quite possibly as far as the 20th.
Forecast: Variable cloudiness tonight. partly cloudy Thursday morning. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday afternoon through Friday night. variable cloudiness Saturday through Monday. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Monday night through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 30/62/29/55 | Reedley 29/62/28/56 | Dinuba 30/62/29/55 | |
| Porterville 30/63/29/56 | Lindsay 29/62/28/56 | Delano 31/63/30/55 | |
| Bakersfield 40/62/36/54 | Taft 44/61/41/54 | Arvin 35/61/33/55 | |
| Lamont 36/61/33/54 | Pixley 30/62/29/56 | Tulare 29/61/28/54 | |
| Woodlake 30/62/29/55 | Hanford 32/62/30/56 | Orosi 29/62/28/55 | |
Winds: Winds through Saturday will be variable to no more than 10 MPH late mornings and afternoons. During the night and early morning hours, winds will be no more than 6 MPH with periods of near calm conditions. However, on Thursday and Thursday night, winds, mainly along the I-5 corridor at 8 to 15 MPH with stronger gusts.
Rain: Expect dry weather tonight and for at least the next 7 to possibly 10 days.
Frost: As usual, temperatures have climbed into the low to mid 60s this afternoon. Dew points are generally in the low to mid 30s. like last night, the wild card will be the amount of cloud cover during the course of the night. for now, I do believe there will be enough to lower temperatures at most locations into the low to mid 30s. However, if skies open up for several hours, which is possible, coldest frost pockets will drop down to 26 to 27 with most flatland locations between 28 and 31. Most locations in Kern County will remain in the mid 30s.
The inversion tonight will continue to be decent with temperatures at 34 fet generally from 5 to 8 degrees warmer at most locations.
Friday and Saturday have the potential to be a bit colder. A cooler air mass will overspread the valley between late Thursday afternoon and Friday. With a northwest flow behind a dry cold front, it’s possible some upslope clouds could develop against the north facing slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains and the west facing slopes of the southern Sierra Nevada, mainly in Tulare County. If it does develop, above freezing conditions would prevail in Kern County and parts of Tulare County.
On Saturday morning, anticipate widespread upper 20s and lower 30s, though it’s possible increasing clouds from the first in a series of Pacific storms moving inland to our north could nudge temperatures up a bit, if they arrive in time. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for Sunday and Monday mornings that heavy cloud cover from storms moving in to our north will keep temperatures above freezing. Later next week, we may see at least low to mid 30s again beginning Wednesday morning as another blocking ridge develops, sealing in the valley.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
30 |
Porterville
30 |
Ivanhoe
28 |
Woodlake
29 |
| Strathmore
30 |
McFarland
29 |
Ducor
31 |
Tea Pot Dome
30 |
| Lindsay
29 |
Exeter
29 |
Famoso
29 |
Madera
29 |
| Belridge
28 |
Delano
30 |
North Bakersfield
32 |
Orosi
29 |
| Orange Cove
30 |
Lindcove
29 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
27 |
| Root Creek
28 |
Venice Hill
30 |
Rosedale
32 |
Jasmine
32 |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
30 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
30 |
Holland Creek
32 |
Tivy Valley
29 |
| Kite Road South
32 |
Kite Road North
29 |
AF=Above Freezing