February 9, 2021
Summary: A weak trough of low pressure is currently moving through central California. Doppler radar is depicting a few isolated showers over the Coast Range off of San Francisco, but mainly just sprinkles is all that can be anticipated here from this system. A northwest push of air will move down the valley behind the exiting low tonight, forming a low layer of upslope clouds against the valley facing slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains and the southern Sierra Nevada, especially in Tulare County. Skies will begin to clear later tonight from Fresno County north and along the west side, however it will be late morning or early afternoon Wednesday before much of Kern County and southeast Tulare County see some sunshine. A weak wedge of upper level high pressure will move overhead Wednesday through Thursday morning. a rather compact low pressure system will move rapidly out of the Gulf of Alaska through northern and central California Thursday night and Friday morning. it’s possible light showers could progress as far south as Fresno County by sunset Thursday. Upsloping will again be a factor behind this system, so clearing will be slow in Kern County and southeast Tulare County.
The next storm system is a bit colder and will again be a fast mover as it slides out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California Saturday night and Sunday morning. Unlike its predecessor, this system will stretch from British Columbia to northern Baja. The chance of showers will be highest Saturday night and early Sunday. Models show a flat zone of high pressure off the California coast Monday through Friday of next week. Northern California may pick up some light precipitation about Monday night or Tuesday, but overall, the storm track will remain to our north so the chance of precipitation from Monday on appears very low.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy tonight in southeaster Tulare and Kern Counties. Clearing tonight from Fresno County north and along the west side. Sprinkles will be possible through the evening hours. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. increasing cloudiness Thursday afternoon. A chance of showers by evening from Fresno County north then a chance of showers Thursday night and Friday morning. mostly cloudy Friday afternoon and Friday night in Kern County and southeastern Tulare County. Partly cloudy elsewhere. Increasing cloudiness Saturday afternoon. A chance of showers again Saturday night and Sunday morning. mostly to partly cloudy Sunday afternoon through Sunday night. variable cloudiness Monday through Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 42/64/41/62 | Reedley 42/65/41/62 | Dinuba 41/63/41/61 | |
| Porterville 42/65/41/63 | Lindsay 41/64/40/62 | Delano 43/65/42/64 | |
| Bakersfield 46/65/44/64 | Taft 49/63/50/62 | Arvin 44/65/43/63 | |
| Lamont 44/64/43/62 | Pixley 42/64/41/63 | Tulare 41/64/40/62 | |
| Woodlake 41/64/41/63 | Hanford 43/64/41/63 | Orosi 41/64/40/62 | |
Winds: Winds this evening will be mainly out of the northwest at around 5 to 12 MPH, becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds Wednesday through Thursday will be generally at or less than 10 MPH with periods of near conditions. Winds late Thursday afternoon and evening will be out of the northwest at 8 to15 MPH with locally stronger gusts possible. Winds Friday will be lighter and variable with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Sprinkles are still possible through the late evening hours. Dry weather will then prevail through most of Thursday. Showers may reach as far south as Fresno County by sunset Thursday with a chance of showers over the remainder of the valley Thursday night and Friday morning. this is a fairly compact storm and a fast mover. Still, .25 to .33 is possible along the east side of the valley from roughly an Exeter/Visalia line north. Models do show a distinct rain shadow in Fresno County and western Kings County for generally at or less than .10. The valley portion of Kern County should tally up anywhere from trace amounts to generally .10. Dry weather will return Friday afternoon through Saturday then showers will rapidly spread over the valley again Saturday night through Sunday morning.
Beginning Monday of next week, the storm track will migrate a bit further to the north, so the chance of precipitation appears low from that point on.
Frost: Expect above freezing conditions short, medium, and long range.
Next update: February 10/am