January 2, 2021
Summary: Mid and high level clouds continue to stream over central California. Most locations are reporting either an overcast or a broken layer of clouds based at 9,500 feet. This is the first day of a mild, westerly flow. Embedded within this low are waves of low pressure, or troughs as we like to call them. One system is moving inland into Washington and Oregon with a few light showers over northern California. Doppler radar is picking up a little virga as far south as Merced County.
The next system upstream is stronger, but models continue to track it further north. Light rain will spread into central California, possibly as early as late Sunday night, with most models showing precipitation arriving Monday through Monday evening. It will be a fast mover with only light precipitation amounts anticipated.
Dry weather will quickly return later Monday night.
Like the last set of forecast models, the latest runs anticipate the storm expected to arrive Thursday will be much weaker and further north than earlier expected. Showers will spread no further south than about a Bay Area/Stockton line.
Beginning Friday, the high will build even further north with generally a zonal flow continuing. Once we get into the late part of the week and next weekend, conditions will grow more favorable for fog and low clouds.
Forecast: Variable cloudiness through Sunday evening. Increasing clouds Sunday night with a chance of light showers by sunrise. Periods of light rain Monday, mainly north of Kern County. A chance of showers Monday evening. Mostly to partly cloudy Monday night and Tuesday morning. partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday with areas of night and morning fog. Mostly cloudy Wednesday night through Thursday night. partly cloudy Friday with areas of night and morning fog. Mostly clear Friday night through Saturday with areas of night and morning fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 40/60/41/61 | Reedley 41/61/42/62 | Dinuba 39/60/41/61 | |
| Porterville 39/61/42/62 | Lindsay 39/60/41/62 | Delano 42/61/42/62 | |
| Bakersfield 46/61/44/63 | Taft 47/61/48/63 | Arvin 43/62/43/63 | |
| Lamont 43/61/44/62 | Pixley 41/61/42/61 | Tulare 39/60/41/61 | |
| Woodlake 39/60/41/61 | Hanford 41/61/42/62 | Orosi 39/60/40/61 | |
Winds: Winds during the late morning and afternoon hours will be variable to no more than 10 MPH. during the night and early morning hours, winds will be generally at or less than 5 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Sunday morning. Late Sunday afternoon through Monday, winds will be mainly out of the east/southeast at 5 to 10 MPH. Expect winds Monday night through Tuesday to be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 MPH.
Rain: The latest models are similar to those from this morning. the next chance of rain will begin possibly as early as Sunday night. more realistically, however, it will be later Monday into Monday evening. It’s possible some locations in the south valley, especially in Kern County, may not pick up any precipitation at all with generally no more than .10 in Kings and Tulare Counties and possibly around .10 to .20 in Fresno and Madera Counties. Dry weather will return later Monday night, except possibly near the base of the Tehachapi where drizzle will be possible due to upslope conditions. Expect dry weather Tuesday and for the remainder of the week. Models for next week aren’t exactly encouraging, either. And the two week model is indicating below average precipitation, as well.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing through Friday morning. Lower 30s will be possible Saturday and beyond, but with a dominant westerly flow continuing, nothing serious is on the weather horizon.
Next update: January 3/am