March 22, 2021
The main feature of note this afternoon is a low pressure system diving southward into the Great Basin. Light showers have spread over Nevada and Utah. The Sierra Nevada is essentially the dividing line between that low in the interior west and upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific. Light showers will spread down the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada tonight, continuing Tuesday. Upsloping over the Kern County mountains may wring out a few light showers there, as well, but nothing over the valley floor other than some increasing cloudiness. Upslope clouds will likely form against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains tonight and Tuesday, forming a lower level cloud deck over Kern County and possibly Tulare County.
Another weaker ripple of low pressure will follow the current system. It will generate an off shore flow Tuesday night and Wednesday. yet another system will dive into the Great Basin Thursday into Friday for another round of partly cloudy skies, but no rain.
Over the weekend, upper level high pressure off shore will begin to shift into the western 1/3 of the US. Combine that with an off shore surface flow and the key ingredients will be there for well above average temperatures this weekend and into next week.
Forecast: Partly cloudy tonight through Tuesday, possibly becoming mostly cloudy in Kern County and eastern Tulare County. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Tuesday night through Friday. Mostly clear Friday night through Monday.
Short Term:
Madera 42/66/36/70 | Reedley 43/67/37/70 | Dinuba 42/65/36/70 |
Porterville 43/67/36/71 | Lindsay 41/66/35/70 | Delano 44/67/37/71 |
Bakersfield 48/65/42/70 | Taft 50/63/46/68 | Arvin 47/64/42/71 |
Lamont 45/65/41/71 | Pixley 43/66/37/71 | Tulare 42/65/35/70 |
Woodlake 41/65/36/71 | Hanford 43/66/37/70 | Orosi 42/65/35/70 |
Winds Discussion: Winds tonight will be mainly out of the northwest at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts, mainly along the west side. Winds Tuesday will continue to be mainly out of the west at about 8 to 15 MPH. Winds Tuesday night through Thursday will be no more than 12 MPH late mornings and afternoons and no more than 7 MPH nights and early mornings 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 23/am