February 16, 2021
Summary: Central California continues to be sandwiched between upper level high pressure well off the coast and a big trough of low pressure encompassing the interior western U.S. Currently there is a 12.10 difference in pressure between San Francisco and Las Vegas. This isn’t huge, but coupled with a powerful jet stream running from northwest to southeast over Nevada. Wind energy aloft is enough to support gusty northwesterly winds down the valley, mainly along the west side. At last report, the Lemoore NAS was reporting gusts to 26 MPH.
This same northwesterly flow, when lifted by the southern Sierra Nevada and the Kern County mountains, it forms a relatively low cloud deck over Kern County and southeastern Tulare County. The base of the cloud cover over Meadows Field is 3,500 feet and 2,400 feet above Porterville. These clouds will continue regenerating tonight and into Wednesday morning.
The northwesterly flow will continue through Friday evening. The next low pressure system will spread showers over northern California down to about a Bay Area/Stockton/Tahoe line later Friday into Saturday. the main impact on central California will be another round of gusty winds out of the northwest and increased cloud cover, mainly from another round of upsloping.
Over the weekend, the high off the California coast will build into the western US, resulting in a warming trend. Warmest locations by Monday should be pressing the 70 degree mark.
Forecast: Partly to mostly cloudy over Kern County and southeastern Tulare County into Wednesday morning. partly cloudy elsewhere. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night. variable cloudiness later Friday through Saturday. mostly clear Saturday night through Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 34/59/33/64 | Reedley 33/60/32/65 | Dinuba 32/58/32/64 | |
| Porterville 32/60/32/65 | Lindsay 31/59/32/65 | Delano 34/60/34/66 | |
| Bakersfield 39/58/40/66 | Taft 45/56/44/64 | Arvin 38/59/37/66 | |
| Lamont 36/59/37/66 | Pixley 32/59/32/65 | Tulare 31/58/32/64 | |
| Woodlake 32/58/32/64 | Hanford 34/60/34/65 | Orosi 32/58/32/63 | |
Winds: Winds this evening will be out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH, becoming light to near calm after midnight. Winds Wednesday through Thursday night will be generally at or less than 10 MPH with periods of near calm conditions. Winds Friday night through Saturday will again be out of the northwest at around 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts, mainly along the west side.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next week to ten days.
Frost: A northwest push of air is spreading moderately cooler air into central California, but it’s certainly nothing to write home about. Upslope clouds will continue to regenerate along the southern Sierra Nevada and against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains. This will likely mean a continuation of mostly cloudy conditions in Kern County and southeastern Tulare County. The air is cold enough to lower temperatures in river bottom and other low spots down to 29 to 30 degrees. Most locations tonight will range between 32 and 37. Cloud cover may very well maintain above freezing conditions in Kern County and southeastern Tulare County. Expect similar conditions Thursday morning. Friday and Saturday will be above freezing due to cloud cover. It’s possible a few frost pockets could lower to near 32 Sunday and Monday, otherwise, expect above freezing conditions for the next week.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
32 |
Porterville
32 |
Ivanhoe
31 |
Woodlake
Af |
| Strathmore
32 |
Mcfarland
Af |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
Af |
Madera
Af |
| Belridge
Af |
Delano
Af |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
31 |
Lindcove
32 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
31 |
| Root Creek
31 |
Venice Hill
32` |
Rosedale
Af |
Jasmine
Af |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
32 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
Af |
Holland Creek
af |
Tivy Valley
Af |
| Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
Ag |
AF=Above Freezing
Next update: February 17/am