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Forecast

February 22, 2021/report

February 22, 2021

Summary: Temperatures as of 1:00pm were generally in the mid to upper 60s so a number of locations will eclipse the 70 degree mark today.  The surface flow remains off shore.  The current barometric pressure at Salt Lake City is 30.47 inches of mercury while at LAX the current reading is 30.15.  Gusty northeast winds are blowing over the Kern County mountains.  Sandburg was reporting winds sustained at 22 MPH, gusting to 35 MPH.

 

Two weather systems will dive southeastward along the eastern rim of upper level high pressure which is anchored off shore.  The first will move through Nevada and Utah Tuesday night and Wednesday.  the second, Thursday night and Friday.  Each time one of these systems zips through into the Great Basin, barometric pressure quickly rises to generate periodic off shore wind events.  Yet a third system will dive southward into Nevada and Utah Saturday as that off shore high builds a ridge into western Canada.  This will create an off shore flow both at the surface and aloft, pumping a cooler air mass into central California.

 

Some  models are now showing the high breaking down by Sunday night.  this would allow a trough of low pressure from the Gulf of Alaska to move into California Monday night and Tuesday for the possibility of rain.  This is the second model run to show this solution, so perhaps we have something here.

 

 

Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday.  Mostly clear Thursday night through Monday.

 

Short Term:                                                                        

Madera 36/70/36/65 Reedley 37/70/38/66 Dinuba 35/69/36/65
Porterville 36/71/36/67 Lindsay 35/69/36/65 Delano 37/71/37/68
Bakersfield 44/71/45/68 Taft 51/69/51/64 Arvin 39/71/40/68
Lamont 38/71/40/68 Pixley 38/70/39/67 Tulare 35/68/36/67
Woodlake 36/69/37/65 Hanford 38/70/39/66 Orosi 36/69/37/66

 

Winds: winds through Thursday will be generally light.  However, winds along the Interstate 5 corridor and possibly the west side will increase out of the northwest at 15 to 25 MPH Wednesday afternoon and evening with stronger gusts.  Winds Thursday will be generally out of the northwest at 5 to 12 MPH with stronger gusts.

 

Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next week to ten days.

 

Frost: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight through Wednesday night.  Periodic fast moving systems will move into the Great Basin this week.  One on Tuesday night and Wednesday.  each time this occurs, pressure rises rapidly over the Great Basin, generating a robust off shore flow.  Gusty northwesterly winds will be the result down the west side of the valley Wednesday afternoon and evening and then again possibly Thursday  night and Friday.  This will spread a marginally cooler air mass into the valley, possibly lowering dew points enough for low to mid 30s to be possible Friday and Saturday mornings.  An even strong off shore flow will develop over the weekend for possible local frost Sunday and Monday.  Some models are also trending towards a cold low dropping out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California Monday night and Tuesday of next week, resulting in slightly above freezing conditions.

Next update:  February 23/am