February 10, 2021
Summary: Generally clear skies prevail this afternoon. There are some low clouds along the Sierra Nevada foothills. Temperatures are generally in the mid 60s as of 1:00pm. We are currently under a fast moving wedge of high pressure which will keep skies mostly clear through early Thursday morning. clouds will begin to increase Thursday ahead of a fast moving and rather compact low pressure system which is moving out of the Gulf of Alaska. Most models place the storm’s center of circulation almost right overhead Thursday night and early Friday. Showers could reach Fresno County by late Thursday afternoon. By midday Friday, dry weather will return as another wedge of high pressure moves quickly through.
Models are still showing a colder system racing out of the Gulf of Alaska, possibly reaching Fresno County by Saturday afternoon and over the remainder of the valley Saturday night through Sunday morning. the pool of air associated with this storm is colder and will bring the snow level down to roughly 3,500 feet.
Beginning Sunday night and Monday, upper level high pressure will take shape well off the southern California coast. The high may remain far enough off shore to allow a weather system into northern California with showers possibly reaching as far south as Fresno County Monday night and Tuesday. The high will begin to build a bit further north by next week and into next weekend for several days of dry weather.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies tonight into early Thursday morning. increasing cloudiness Thursday with a chance of showers from Fresno County north by midafternoon. Showers likely Thursday night into Friday morning. mostly to partly cloudy Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. increasing cloudiness Saturday with a chance of showers by midafternoon. Showers likely Saturday night and Sunday morning. mostly to partly cloudy Sunday afternoon through Monday morning. variable clouds Monday night through Tuesday night with a chance of showers, mainly from Fresno County north. Partly cloudy late Tuesday night through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 40/64/45/61 | Reedley 41/65/45/62 | Dinuba 40/63/44/61 | |
| Porterville 39/65/44/61 | Lindsay 38/64/44/61 | Delano 41/65/46/61 | |
| Bakersfield 43/66/50/60 | Taft 49/64/52/60 | Arvin 43/65/46/61 | |
| Lamont 43/66/47/60 | Pixley 40/64/45/62 | Tulare 39/63/44/61 | |
| Woodlake 39/63/45/62 | Hanford 40/64/46/61 | Orosi 38/63/44/61 | |
Winds: Winds tonight and Thursday morning will be light and variable with periods of near calm conditions. Later Thursday through early Friday, winds will be out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts. Winds later Friday through Saturday morning will be light and variable then will be out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH Saturday afternoon.
Rain: Showers may reach as far south as Fresno County by mid to late afternoon Thursday with showers Thursday night and Friday morning. rainfall amounts along the eastern flank of the valley from roughly a Visalia/Exeter line north may tally up to between a couple of tenths to possibly as much as a quarter of an inch. Due to a rain shadow, amounts on the west side will be generally at or less than a tenth of an inch. With a bit of luck, the valley portion of Kern County could pick up a tenth or so.
Dry weather will quickly return Friday. Showers will again spread down the valley Saturday afternoon with the likelihood of showers Saturday night into Sunday morning. dry weather will return Sunday afternoon through Monday. Showers will again spread over northern California Monday night and Tuesday. It’s possible light showers could spread as far south as Fresno County. We’ll have to adjust this forecast as we move closer to the weekend. It appears dry weather will prevail Wednesday through Friday of next week and possibly longer.
Frost: Expect above freezing conditions short, medium, and long range.
Next update: February 11/am