Thanks so much for all the heartfelt prayers and well wishes.
January 7, 2021
Summary: As of 1:30pm, low overcast remained from Madera County northward to around Stockton where temperatures are only in the mid 40s. Low to mid 50s are prevalent from Fresno southward to Visalia while Porterville and Bakersfield were each pushing 60 degrees in hazy sunshine. Visibilities at this hour are only running from 3 to 5 miles.
The next fast moving trough of low pressure will move into the Pacific Northwest and northern California late tonight through early Friday morning. it’s possible a few light showers may track as far south as a Monterey/Stockton line, but just variable mid and high level clouds will be in our region through Friday morning. the main challenge with this system will be whether cloud cover late tonight will halt the formation of fog and low clouds. It may also disturb the inversion enough to alleviate the fog situation, as well. However, that’s by no means guaranteed and if widespread dense fog were to greet us tomorrow morning, it would not be at all surprising.
Just as soon as this system races into the Rocky Mountain region Friday afternoon, an amplified ridge of upper level high pressure will build over and off the west coast with a sharp, narrow ridge into western Canada. This will really put a lid over the valley floor as descending air from the building high creates a warm air inversion necessary for widespread fog and low clouds with only partial afternoon clearing. The northern sector of the high will break down Monday, allowing the storm track to move back into the Pacific Northwest. However, I do strongly feel all of next week will be dry.
Temperatures both during the overnight and afternoon hours will be governed by low clouds and fog…where it burns off and where it does not.
Forecast: Partly cloudy this evening. Widespread fog and low clouds developing later tonight with variable mid and high level clouds above the fog. Variable cloudiness Friday morning with at least areas of low clouds and dense fog. Becoming mostly clear Friday afternoon through Sunday with widespread fog and low clouds with partial afternoon clearing. Expect widespread fog and low clouds Sunday night through Thursday with clearing in some areas during the afternoons.
Short Term:
| Madera 37/54/37/57 | Reedley 35/56/36/57 | Dinuba 35/55/37/55 | |
| Porterville 34/58/36/57 | Lindsay 34/59/36/57 | Delano 37/59/37/55 | |
| Bakersfield 40/61/41/58 | Taft 43/57/45/57 | Arvin 37/61/37/59 | |
| Lamont 37/60/37/58 | Pixley 35/57/36/54 | Tulare 34/54/35/53 | |
| Woodlake 34/58/35/55 | Hanford 37/56/37/53 | Orosi 34/58/34/54 | |
Winds: Winds through Monday will be at or less than 10 MPH and variable in nature during the late mornings and afternoons and generally less than 5 MPH during the night and early morning hours with extended periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for the next week to possibly ten days.
Frost: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight and each night for the foreseeable future. The only possible exception will be river bottom and similar low lying frost pockets on any night where skies are relatively clear and conditions are fog free. If the fog and low overcast completely take over this weekend and beyond, above freezing conditions will be a given.
Next update: January 8/am