March 21, 2021
Today will be the first day of a prolonged period of dry and very pleasant spring weather for the valley. A lingering weak trough of low pressure covers the southern half of California, resulting in a chance of a few showers over the high Sierra this afternoon. The air mass in the wake of the recent storm is still fairly cool. Freezing levels above us this morning are only around 5,000 feet.
Upper level high pressure is beginning to bulge northeastward into the Pacific Northwest and northern California. California will be on the northeastern rim of the high, putting us under a northwest flow aloft. The main storm track will be running from western Canada southward into the interior west. One system will spread showers over Nevada and Utah Tuesday with a similar system Thursday and Friday. The latter may result in a few showers over the high Sierra.
Models for this coming weekend continue to show a strong high building over the eastern Pacific and the western 1/3 of the US. Embedded within this high will be a weak cut off low. Models differ widely on the placement of this feature, but for now there’s little evidence that active weather will play a role in central California. In fact, it’s possible temperatures could top 80 degrees a week from now.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday. Mostly clear Thursday night through Sunday.
Short Term:
| Madera 65/37/68/40/68 | Reedley 65/37/69/40/69 | Dinuba 65/36/68/40/68 |
| Porterville 66/36/69/39/69 | Lindsay 65/35/68/39/68 | Delano 66/38/69/41/69 |
| Bakersfield 65/43/68/45/65 | Taft 63/45/68/48/64 | Arvin 66/39/69/43/66 |
| Lamont 65/39/70/41/69 | Pixley 66/38/69/41/68 | Tulare 65/37/68/41/69 |
| Woodlake 66/37/69/40/68 | Hanford 65/38/69/42/68 | Orosi 65/35/68/39/68 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Wednesday
Mostly clear 41/69 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 41/71 |
Friday
Mostly clear 44/75 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 45/76 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 46/80 |
Two Week Outlook: March 27 through April 2: Don’t expect much in the way of precipitation during this time frame. Models show a generally weak zone of high pressure over California and off shore. Temperatures will likely be marginally above average.
April: This model shows a fairly persistent ridge of upper level high pressure dominating most of the western US for much of the month of April. Temperatures will generally range above average with below average precipitation as we begin the dry season.
April, May, June: You could actually carbon copy the 30 day outlook as the parameters of this model indicate drier than average conditions. However, since this is the beginning of the dry season, it’s a rather moot point. Temperatures will generally range above average.
Winds Discussion: Winds through Wednesdady will be generally at or less than 12 MPH late mornings and afternoons and generally less than 7 MPH during the night and early morning hours with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next seven to ten days, at least.
Frost Discussion: Expect above freezing conditions for the next seven to ten days, at least.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 30s. Low to mid 30s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 99%/40% Porterville, 96%/50%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 90%, tomorrow 100%. Bakersfield: Today: 80% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford .81, Parlier .79, Arvin .88, Orange Cove .75, Porterville .83, Delano .89. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 55, Parlier 57, Blackwell 52, Arvin, 57, Orange Cove 56, Porterville 58, Delano 53.
Record Temperatures: 88/30. Average Temperatures: 68/43
Heating Degree Days This Season: 2049. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 52.4, -2.4 courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.44 or -2.66 or 71% of average. Month to Date: 1.33 or -.08
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 2.58, +or- -2.62 or 50% of average. Month to date .77 or -.07
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 982, Parlier, 1128, Arvin, 882, Belridge, 1029, Shafter, 1008, Stratford, 1082, Delano, 1157, Porterville, 1108
Hours at 45 or below 45. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise: 6:59 am Sunset: 7:13 Hours of Daylight: 12:11
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 63 / 38 / 0.03 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 62 / 38 / 0.01 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 62 / 46 / 0.18 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 62 / 45 / 0.24 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 64 / 42 / 0.21 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 61 / 49 / 0.18 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 62 / 50 / 0.28 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1700 / M / 43 / M /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 63 / 48 / 0.28 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1649 / 63 / 47 / M /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.84 68 7.05 61 11.53 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 7.12 68 5.35 51 10.54 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.97 70 0.00 0 9.96 12.50
MADERA 0.00 M M M M 9.66 12.02
FRESNO 0.03 6.44 71 0.00 0 9.10 11.50
HANFORD 0.03 4.13 51 0.00 0 8.09 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.14 2.58 50 0.00 0 5.20 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.62 41 1.73 44 3.91 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 5.70 54 7.15 68 10.59 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.73 62 8.96 83 10.85 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.86 59 7.59 65 11.69 13.95
Next report: March 22