March 22, 2021
California is on the eastern periphery of a large high in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere. It covers the eastern Pacific with a ridge building northward into the Gulf of Alaska. Storm systems will move down the eastern edge of the high through the Pacific Northwest then into the Great Basin. The first such system is moving through Washington and Oregon now and will dive into the Great Basin tonight and Tuesday, resulting in showers over the intermountain west with a chance of light showers over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada later tonight and Tuesday.
A cooler air mass will also spread into California with gusty winds over the mountain areas and the west side of the valley Tuesday. A similar system will follow almost the identical path Thursday and Friday. After Friday, medium range models are still pointing towards a big warm up over California as a large high remains over the eastern Pacific but ridges inland over the western 1/3 of the US. Numerical models for this weekend are indicating readings moving into the lower 80s by Sunday and possibly low to mid 80s the first half of next week. As you might expect, this is a dry pattern so no precipitation is expected for the next week to possibly ten days.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Wednesday night. some high clouds will mix in from time to time Tuesday and Tuesday night. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday through Friday. Mostly clear Friday night through Monday.
Short Term:
| Madera 70/41/65/37/69 | Reedley 71/41/67/37/70 | Dinuba 70/42/65/36/71 |
| Porterville 71/42/67/37/70 | Lindsay 70/40/65/36/71 | Delano 71/42/66/38/71 |
| Bakersfield 71/50/65/41/69 | Taft 69/50/65/44/71 | Arvin 71/45/64/40/70 |
| Lamont 71/43/64/41/71 | Pixley 70/42/66/37/70 | Tulare 71/41/65/36/71 |
| Woodlake 71/41/66/35/70 | Hanford 71/43/65/38/71 | Orosi 69/41/66/35/71 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Thursday
Mostly clear 39/70 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 41/73 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 43/78 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 47/80 |
Monday
Mostly clear 48/81 |
Two Week Outlook: March 28 through April 3: 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 today will be generally at or less than 12 MPH. Winds late tonight through Tuesday evening will be out of the north to northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with gusts to near 20 MPH possible, mainly along the west side of Fresno and Kings Counties. Expect light winds Wednesday through Thursday.
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, 94%/39% Porterville, 95%/42%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 90%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford .87, Parlier .82, Arvin .90, Orange Cove .79, Porterville .87, Delano .92. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 55, Parlier 57, Blackwell 52, Arvin, 58, Orange Cove 56, Porterville 58, Delano 53.
Record Temperatures: 83/30. Average Temperatures: 69/43
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 -2.72 or 70% of average. Month to Date: 1.33 or -.14
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 2.58, +or- -2.66 or 49% of average. Month to date .77 or -.11
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: 6:57 am Sunset: 7:14 Hours of Daylight: 12:14
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 67 / 54 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 65 / 34 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 64 / 42 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 65 / 37 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 67 / 34 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 63 / 42 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 63 / 38 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / M / M /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 64 / 35 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1652 / 62 / 42 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.84 68 7.05 61 11.59 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 7.12 67 5.46 52 10.60 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.97 70 0.00 0 10.00 12.50
MADERA 0.00 M M M M 9.69 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.44 70 0.00 0 9.16 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.13 51 0.00 0 8.13 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.58 49 0.00 0 5.24 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.62 41 1.73 44 3.92 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 5.70 53 7.22 68 10.66 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.73 62 8.96 82 10.92 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.86 58 7.59 65 11.76 13.95
Next report: March 22/pm