February 13, 2021
A cold trough of low pressure has now stretched from Washington to Nevada. Light rain and snow is spreading down the Sierra Nevada and has now reached into Tulare County. The main dynamics and energy with this storm will pounce on Nevada and Utah and then will form a major winter storm centering over the Four Corners region. Only a few light showers are possible over the valley today and mainly near the Sierra Nevada foothills. California essentially is on the western rim of this low. The jet stream up at 30,000 feet is running from northwest to southeast right above central California at a cool 180 MPH. This, combined with significant pressure differences between northern California and the Desert Southwest will support strong winds over the Kern County mountains and the high Sierra. Winds will increase on the valley floor, generally in the 10 to 20 MPH range out of the northwest this afternoon and tonight with stronger gusts.
A definitely cooler air mass will spread in from the northwest today and tonight, however, unlike areas east of us, it will be nothing to write home about. Upper level high pressure is developing off the California coast. The center of circulation is well off shore.
From Monday through Wednesday, California will be on the western fringe of this high with a northwest flow aloft. The next system is fairly weak and will spread some light showers over northern California with just variable clouds over central California.
The off shore high will build inland after Wednesday, resulting in a warming trend. Until then, readings will be marginally below average.
Forecast: A small chance of light showers today, mainly near the Sierra Nevada foothills. Mostly cloudy tonight and Sunday morning over Kern and Tulare Counties with partly cloudy skies elsewhere. Partly cloudy Sunday afternoon and night. variable cloudiness Monday through Tuesday morning. mostly clear Tuesday afternoon through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 58/36/59/36/59 | Reedley 59/37/59/36/58 | Dinuba 58/36/59/35/58 |
| Porterville 57/38/59/36/59 | Lindsay 59/37/59/35/57 | Delano 59/40/59/38/60 |
| Bakersfield 60/45/58/40/60 | Taft 57/49/57/44/60 | Arvin 59/43/58/38/60 |
| Lamont 59/42/58/38/60 | Pixley 59/38/59/37/59 | Tulare 58/37/58/35/58 |
| Woodlake 59/39/59/36/59 | Hanford 59/38/59/37/60 | Orosi 58/38/59/35/58 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Partly cloudy 40/59 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 37/59 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 36/60 |
Friday
Mostly clear 38/64 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 40/65 |
Two Week Outlook: February 19 through February 25: This model puts California under a northwesterly flow aloft during this time frame resulting in somewhat below average temperatures. For now, it appears the storm track will remain north of central California so the chance of precipitation will remain low.
February: Both the 30 and 90 day outlooks reflect a La Nina pattern with below average precipitation over the southern 2/3 of California and above average precip over parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Temperatures should be close to seasonal averages.
February, March, April: Precipitation will continue to be above average over the Pacific Northwest and roughly the northern ¼ of California with the southern 2/ 3 of California having below average precipitation. Temperatures should be marginally above average.
Winds Discussion: Winds will be out of the northwest later today at around 10 to 20 MPH. gusts to around 30 MPH cannot be ruled out, mainly along the west side. Winds will decrease to 5 to 12 MPH out of the northwest later tonight, continuing Sunday. Winds Sunday night through Tuesday will be generally light.
Rain Discussion: There is a minor chance of light showers today, mainly near the Sierra Nevada foothills. If measurable precipitation does occur, less than .10 is all that would likely be recorded. Expect dry weather tonight and through all of next week.
Frost Discussion: A cooler air mass is spreading down the valley today, however, no frost is anticipated. Lows tonight or any night this upcoming week could possibly drop to 34 to 35 in low lying frog ponds and frost pockets. After Wednesday morning, the atmosphere will moderate further, maintaining above freezing conditions.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 40s. Mid to upper 40s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 90%/50% Porterville, NA
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 50%, tomorrow 10%. Bakersfield: Today: 30% Tomorrow: 20%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford .55, Parlier .49, Arvin .63, Orange Cove .50, Porterville .NA, Delano .56. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 52, Parlier 53, Blackwell 52, Arvin, 54, Orange Cove 54, Porterville 49, Delano 49
Record Temperatures: 79/24. Average Temperatures: 61/38
Heating Degree Days This Season: 1589. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 52.5 +3.8 courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 5.09, or -1.44 or 78% of average. Month to Date: .27 or -.60
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 1.80, +or- -1.85 or 49% of average. Month to date .08 or -.35
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 865, Parlier, 1004, Arvin, 799, Belridge, 923, Shafter, 907, Stratford, 961, Delano, 1026, Porterville, 970
Hours at 45 or below 45. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise: 6:48 am Sunset: 5:39 pm Hours of Daylight: 10:49
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1600 / 62 / 43 / 0.28 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 62 / 47 / 0.14 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 61 / 49 / 0.27 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 62 / 48 / 0.02 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 65 / 45 / T /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 60 / 49 / 0.08 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 60 / 47 / 0.20 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 59 / 48 / 0.10 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1549 / 56 / 50 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 63 / 48 / M /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 6.86 80 5.27 61 8.60 14.06
MODESTO T 6.35 82 3.92 51 7.74 13.11
MERCED 0.07 5.90 84 M M 7.05 12.50
MADERA 0.12 M M M M 6.97 12.02
FRESNO 0.26 5.09 78 M M 6.53 11.50
HANFORD 0.02 3.05 52 M M 5.83 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.08 1.80 49 M M 3.65 6.47
BISHOP 0.31 1.61 53 1.16 39 3.01 5.18
SALINAS 0.02 4.64 61 5.99 79 7.58 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.03 5.96 80 6.61 88 7.47 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.18 6.08 76 4.79 60 8.04 13.95
Next report: February 13/pm