March 20, 2021
Skies have cleared out this afternoon with the exception of Kern County where upslope clouds are being generated against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains due to a northwest flow behind last night’s storm system. A west to east oriented weak trough of low pressure will remain over the southern half of California through Sunday for a chance of showers over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Upslope clouds will continue to redevelop in the south valley into tomorrow morning.
By Sunday night, a ridge of high pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere will build into the Pacific Northwest and northern California, putting us under a northwesterly flow aloft. Surface high pressure will also develop Sunday night and Monday over the Great Basin, resulting in a brief off shore surface flow. The high will be centered off shore through midweek, putting California on the northeast flank of the high. Weak weather systems will dive from western Canada into the interior west. One such system will dive into Nevada and Utah Tuesday with a stronger event later Thursday through Friday. That system may actually provide the Sierra with a chance of showers over the higher elevations, but the valley will remain dry.
A very strong high will build northeastward into the Gulf of Alaska this coming weekend, eventually building into western Canada, creating a northeast flow aloft. The combination of strong high pressure and off shore flow could drive temperatures well above average beginning about a week from now.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy tonight and Saturday morning in Kern County and southeastern Tulare County with mostly clear skies elsewhere. Mostly clear Sunday afternoon to Wednesday. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday through Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 36/65/36/68 | Reedley 37/66/38/69 | Dinuba 36/65/37/68 |
| Porterville 37/66/37/69 | Lindsay 35/65/36/68 | Delano 37/66/37/69 |
| Bakersfield 42/65/43/68 | Taft 43/63/47/65 | Arvin 40/64/37/68 |
| Lamont 39/64/37/68 | Pixley 37/66/37/68 | Tulare 36/65/36/67 |
| Woodlake 36/66/36/67 | Hanford 38/65/37/69 | Orosi 36/66/35/68 |
Winds Discussion: Winds this evening will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts, diminishing and becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds Sunday through Tuesday will be generally at or less than 12 MPH late mornings and afternoons and less than 6 MPH during the night and early morning hours with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Frost Discussion: Temperatures will be above freezing for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Next report: March 21/am