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Forecast

March 18, 2021/update

 March 18, 2021

The first  bands of light showers are currently spreading onshore along the coast from Monterey County north.  Scattered light showers are also now moving into Merced County.  This activity will move slowly southward this evening ahead of a cold front just now moving into northern California.  The latest high resolution models are indicating that .25 could be measured from this storm from Fresno County north.  There will be a good chance of  light showers with this system from tonight through tomorrow night.  as the front moves into southern California late Friday night and early Saturday, the chance of showers over the valley floor will come to an end.  However, a weak trough of low pressure will be oriented from east to west across central California through the weekend, continuing the possibility of showers over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada through Sunday afternoon.

 

The low will shift into the Rocky Mountain region Sunday night, allowing upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific to build northeastward into California.  This will put central California under the northeast quadrant of the high, developing a northwest flow aloft which will keep temperatures moderate through the middle of next week.

 

On Thursday night and Friday, a low will dive into the Great Basin.  This system will give a chance of showers over the Sierra Nevada during the late part of the work week, but no active weather is expected over the valley floor.

 

Forecast: Cloudy through Friday night with periods of light showers.  Partly cloudy Saturday through Sunday evening.  Becoming mostly clear Sunday night through Thursday.

 

Short Term:                                                                        

Madera 50/64/43/62 Reedley 50/65/42/63 Dinuba 49/64/42/62
Porterville 50/68/43/64 Lindsay 49/63/41/63 Delano 51/68/44/64
Bakersfield 53/71/48/61 Taft 55/69/51/62 Arvin 51/71/48/61
Lamont 50/71/48/61 Pixley 50/67/43/63 Tulare 49/64/41/62
Woodlake 48/64/42/62 Hanford 50/64/43/63 Orosi 47/65/41/62

 

Winds Discussion:  Winds today will be generally out of the southeast at 5 to 12 MPH.  Winds later tonight and at times through Sunday, winds will be mainly out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH.  Stronger gusts are possible, mainly from Fresno County north and along the west side.

 

Rain Discussion:  Light showers are already pushing into the valley from Merced County north.  They will spread over the remainder of the valley tonight.  periods of light showers will be possible anytime from tonight through Friday night.  rainfall amounts, especially in Fresno and eastern Madera County could range up to as much as .25 to .33.  In northern Kings County and much of Tulare County, generally .10 to .25 seems plausible and generally at or less than .10 over the valley portion of Kern County.  Dry weather will return to the valley Saturday and will continue through at least the middle of next week.  A low will drop into the Great Basin Thursday and Friday but will be too far to the east to pose chances of precipitation in the valley, so for now I do believe dry conditions can be expected all of next week.

 

Frost Discussion: Temperatures will be above freezing for at least the next 7 to 10 days.

 

Next report: March 19/am