February 12, 2021
Summary: Satellite imagery this afternoon depicts plenty of upslope clouds over the eastern and southern San Joaquin Valley. The base of the overcast over Bakersfield is 4,500 feet while at Porterville and Visalia, the base is 4,100 feet. Mostly clear to partly cloudy conditions prevail elsewhere. The northwesterly winds have decreased somewhat, although the latest observation at the Lemoore NAS had winds gusting to 24 MPH.
The compact little low that brought the showers overnight has raced southeastward into Arizona, however clouds are already increasing over northern California ahead of an elongated low pressure system which will stretch from Washington state southeastward into Nevada and Utah. This will form a major winter storm over the interior and south west later in the weekend. Light snow showers will spread down the Sierra Nevada with only a minimal chance of light showers on the valley floor, especially along the eastern flank of the valley late Saturday and Saturday night.
Another round of gusty northwesterly winds will develop Saturday night and Sunday as strong differences in surface pressure and a jet stream which will run northwest to southeast over California develop.
Beginning Monday, high pressure at the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere will begin to expand over the eastern Pacific Ocean. The high’s center will be well off shore, putting California on the far eastern side of the high with a relatively cold northwest flow through midweek.
After Wednesday, the high will expand further east and north. As it does, the storm will migrate further and further north, as well. The bottom line is, next week will be dry.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy tonight in Tulare and Kern Counties. Partly cloudy elsewhere. Increasing clouds late tonight. a chance of light showers Saturday afternoon and night, mainly on the east side. Mostly cloudy Sunday in Tulare and Kern Counties. Partly cloudy skies elsewhere. Variable clouds at times Sunday night through Monday night. partly cloudy Tuesday. Mostly clear Tuesday night through Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 43/58/37/59 | Reedley 43/59/38/60 | Dinuba 42/58/36/59 | |
| Porterville 44/60/36/60 | Lindsay 42/59/35/60 | Delano 44/60/38/60 | |
| Bakersfield 46/58/41/58 | Taft 47/57/45/57 | Arvin 45/58/39/59 | |
| Lamont 44/58/39/59 | Pixley 44/60/38/60 | Tulare 42/58/36/59 | |
| Woodlake 43/59/37/60 | Hanford 43/59/37/60 | Orosi 42/58/36/59 | |
Winds: Winds this evening will be mainly out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts, becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds Saturday morning will be generally light then will increase out of the northwest later Saturday afternoon through Sunday at 10 to 20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH possible, mainly along the west side. Winds will decrease Sunday night with light winds returning Monday.
Rain: A cold weather system will dive into Nevada and Utah Saturday and Saturday night. light snow will spread down the Sierra Nevada. The chance of measurable rain on the valley floor is quite low with the greatest possibility being near the Sierra Nevada foothills. A prolonged period of dry weather will begin Sunday which will last all of next week and possible even into the following week.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight. where skies clear Sunday morning, river bottom and similar low spots will drop down to 34 to 36 or so, but no frost is anticipated. Mid to upper 30s are possible in the frost pockets Monday morning, depending on sky cover. Any night next week with mostly clear skies will see temperatures in the cold pockets in the mid to upper 30s but no real frost threat is seen for the foreseeable future.
Next update: February 13/am