February 24, 2021
The pattern we’ve been under for the past several days will continue. Upper level high pressure remains parked over the eastern Pacific while weak disturbances race around the eastern rim of the high through the Pacific Northwest then into the Great Basin. One such disturbance is moving into northern Nevada and Utah at this hour. Pressure is quickly falling over the Great Basin and Desert Southwest and is rising over eastern Oregon and Idaho behind the disturbance. As pressures quickly rise this afternoon over the northern Great Basin, strong pressure gradients will develop between the interior west and the Desert Southwest. This will also be supported by a strong northerly flow aloft.
Gusty northerly winds will blow down the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin Valleys this afternoon in to early Thursday. These winds will likely work their way into western Fresno and Kings Counties this afternoon and evening. There’s no real weather associated with this pattern, however slightly cooler temperatures can be expected over the next few days.
Over the weekend, a stronger trough will move through the Great Basin as upper level high pressure bulges northeastward into the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. This will create a brief northeast flow aloft, spreading a somewhat cooler air mass into central California, although latest models indicate the cooling will be somewhat marginal.
Longer range models for next week show dry weather through at least next Thursday as the next Pacific storm slides southward much too far off shore to affect California. Medium range models have also been indicating a trough of low pressure moving inland about Friday of next week, however, this has been the type of year where these medium range models reverse themselves. We’ll see what happens this time around.
Forecast: Other than occasional high clouds, expect mostly clear skies through Saturday night. mostly clear skies will continue Sunday through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 67/34/66/33/65 | Reedley 68/35/66/33/65 | Dinuba 68/33/66/32/67 |
| Porterville 69/34/66/33/67 | Lindsay 68/33/66/32/67 | Delano 68/36/66/34/67 |
| Bakersfield 69/40/68/41/66 | Taft 66/44/67/44/65 | Arvin 70/37/67/36/66 |
| Lamont 69/39/67/37/66 | Pixley 68/34/66/32/66 | Tulare 68/34/66/32/65 |
| Woodlake 68/34/66/33/65 | Hanford 68/35/66/34/64 | Orosi 68/33/66/32/64 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Saturday
Mostly clear 34/62 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 34/64 |
Monday
Mostly clear 35/70 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 39/71 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 39/65 |
Two Week Outlook: March 3 through March 9: 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.
March: This model indicates the Pacific Northwest and northern California will have below average temperatures for the month while just the opposite will be true for southern California and the Desert Southwest. Central California is between these two zones, theoretically experiencing near average temperatures and drier than average conditions.
March, April, May: As usual, this model shows California and most of the country with above average temperatures. This same model indicated pretty much the same for the current month of February which will go down as one of the coldest February on record. Precipitation over the next 90 days should run below average.
Winds Discussion: winds through Friday south of Fresno County and along the east side through Kern County will be generally at or less than 12 MPH late mornings and afternoons and at or less than 6 MPH nights and mornings with periods of near calm conditions. Winds this afternoon through Thursday along western Fresno and Kings Counties will be out of the west to northwest at 10 to 20 MPH. Local gusts to 30 MPH are possible. Winds late Friday night and Saturday will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next 7 to 10 days.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight. it’s possible in wind sheltered river bottom type topography that readings could briefly fall to 31 to 32. Later today and tonight, gusty north to northwest winds will move down the northern half of the valley and along the far west side. We will have to watch dew points tonight and Thursday to see if they fall low enough to result in local frost Friday morning. another strong off shore flow will occur over the weekend both at the surface and aloft, issuing in a marginally cooler air mass. Even though daytime highs will remain in the 60s, dew points may fall low enough for local frost to form. We will, though, also need to consider in and out cloud cover, mixing, and other parameters. By Monday, temperatures should be above freezing as upper level high pressure moves overhead with daytime highs eclipsing the 70 degree mark. For now, it appears the rest of next week will also be above the freezing mark.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 30s to the lower 40s. Mid to upper 30s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 82%/33% Porterville, 91%/35%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 90%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford .81, Parlier .75, Arvin .81, Orange Cove .73, Porterville .76, Delano .78. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 53, Parlier 52, Blackwell 52, Arvin, 56, Orange Cove 54, Porterville 54, Delano 48.
Record Temperatures: 79/30. Average Temperatures: 64/40
Heating Degree Days This Season: 1737. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 51.9 +2.1 courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 5.11, or -2.23 or 70% of average. Month to Date: .29 or -1.39
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 1.81, +or- -2.33 or 44% of average. Month to date .09 or -.93
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 939, Parlier, 1081, Arvin, 851, Belridge, 990, Shafter, 973, Stratford, 1043, Delano, 1110, Porterville, 1057
Hours at 45 or below 45. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise: 6:36 am Sunset: 5:49 pm Hours of Daylight: 11:13
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1600 / 69 / 36 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 67 / 38 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1500 / 70 / 44 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1500 / 70 / 37 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 72 / 39 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1500 / 73 / 44 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 70 / 38 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1600 / 66 / 47 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 71 / 37 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1551 / 68 / 49 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 70 / 44 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 6.86 72 5.27 55 9.59 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 6.38 74 3.92 45 8.66 13.11
MERCED 0.00 5.92 74 M M 8.02 12.50
MADERA 0.00 M M M M 7.88 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 5.11 70 M M 7.34 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 3.05 46 M M 6.57 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 1.81 44 M M 4.14 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.61 48 1.32 39 3.37 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 4.73 55 5.99 70 8.56 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 5.96 70 6.61 78 8.51 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.08 66 4.79 52 9.26 13.95
Next report: February 24/pm