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Forecast

March 16, 2021/update

 March 16, 2021

A northwesterly flow aloft continues to develop upslope clouds against the Sierra Nevada foothills.  These clouds are arching out over the eastern half of the San Joaquin Valley.  Drier air embedded within this flow will begin to cause the clouds to dissipate overnight, although some cloudiness may last into Wednesday morning.  Currently, the base of the cloud deck over Bakersfield is 4,500 feet and over Porterville and Visalia the base is at 4,400 feet.  Even though it’s a very cool afternoon by mid March standards with readings mostly in the mid 50s, it’s still anywhere from 4 to 7 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago.  From 4,000 feet and above in the mountain areas, temperatures are generally 10 degrees warmer.

 

A weak ridge of upper level high pressure continues to build in from the west and will do so through Wednesday night.  in the meantime, a developing low in the Gulf of Alaska will drop southward, centering off the coast of the Pacific Northwest Thursday.  This system will drop a weak trough of low pressure into northern and central California Thursday night and Friday.  A surface cold front will move through late Thursday night and Friday morning.  there will be a chance of light showers Thursday night and Friday morning, especially from Fresno County north.  Behind this system will be a weak trough of low pressure which will remain over California through the weekend.  However, the only chance of precipitation will be over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada.

 

A ridge of high pressure will build in from the west beginning Monday and will dominate our pattern through at least Thursday of next week.

 

Forecast:  Partly cloudy this evening.  Gradually clearing overnight.  Mostly clear Wednesday and Wednesday night.  increasing cloudiness Thursday leading to a chance of scattered light showers Thursday night and Friday morning, mainly from Fresno County north.  Mostly cloudy in Kern County and eastern Tulare County Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.  partly cloudy Saturday afternoon through Sunday.  Mostly clear Sunday night through Tuesday.

 

Short Term:                                                                        

Madera 33/66//42/68 Reedley 32/67/41/68 Dinuba 32/65/41/69
Porterville 32/67/41/70 Lindsay 31/65/40/70 Delano 33/66/41/71
Bakersfield 39/68/48/72 Taft 43/65/51/71 Arvin 37/68/43/72
Lamont 36/68/43/72 Pixley 33/66/42/71 Tulare 32/65/42/70
Woodlake 32/67/41/70 Hanford 33/66/43/71 Orosi 32/65/41/71

 

Winds Discussion:  Winds during the late morning and afternoon hours will be generally at or less than  12 MPH and variable in nature.  Winds during the night and  morning hours will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Thursday.  Winds late Thursday night and Friday will be out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with stronger gusts.

 

Rain Discussion:  There will be a small chance of light showers Thursday night and Friday morning, mainly from Fresno County north.  If precipitation occurs at all, less than .10 is all that’s anticipated.  Dry weather will prevail Friday night and more than likely for the next week or so thereafter.

 

Frost Discussion: Temperatures this afternoon are running 4 to 7 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago.  Even so, it’s rather chilly by mid March standards, with readings mainly in the mid 50s.  Dew points at most locations are generally in the mid to upper 30s.  a northwesterly flow aloft is causing upslope clouds to develop against the southern Sierra Nevada foothills.  These clouds are arching out over the east side of the valley.  As progressively drier air moves in under rising pressures aloft, most of this cloud cover will dissipate during the night, although some cloud cover may hang in there through Wednesday morning.

 

Expect widespread low to mid 30s tonight with a small chance of short durations of upper 20s in isolated cold spots out there.  The atmosphere will begin to modify quickly beginning Wednesday, so this will be the last day of possible frost we will see, hopefully for quite some time.

 

Lows Tonight:

Terra Bella

32

Porterville

33

Ivanhoe

31

Woodlake

32

Strathmore

33

mcFarland

33

Ducor

Af

Tea Pot Dome

32

Lindsay

31

Exeter

32

Famoso

Af

Madera

33

Belridge

31

Delano

33

North Bakersfield

Af

Orosi

32

Orange Cove

32

Lindcove

31

Lindcove Hillside Sanger River Bottom

29

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

32

Kite Road South

Af

Kite Road North

32

AF=Above Freezing

 

Next report: March 17/am