March 23, 2021
A robust low pressure system is centered over central Arizona this afternoon. Strong high pressure remains just off the west coast with a ridge into the Gulf of Alaska. Surface high pressure will just briefly build over the Great Basin tonight and early Wednesday, resulting in a strong off shore flow. Over the next few hours, strong winds out of the northwest will continue down the west side of the valley. As of 1:00pm, Lemoore was reporting sustained winds at 25 MPH gusting to 37 MPH, Merced, Stockton and Modesto reported gusts into the upper 30s. this strong pushs of air down the valley is also regenerating upslope clouds against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains and the west facing slopes of the Sierra Nevada, especially in Kern County. These clouds were based at 4,200 feet at Bakersfield and 3,400 feet over Porterville. They will likely remain through Wednesday morning while the rest of the valley enjoys clear skies.
The next weather system to dive into the Great Basin will do so Wednesday with yet another Thursday and Friday. This system is stronger and will spread showers over the high Sierra. The relatively cool air mass settling over central California will undergo significant warming this coming weekend. Models continue to project the high off the California coast will build eastward, covering the western 1/3 of the US by Sunday. By early next week, daytime highs will likely eclipse the 80 degree mark which, really, is not that unusual for late March.
Forecast: Partly to mostly cloudy tonight and Wednesday morning in Kern and Tulare Counties with mostly clear skies elsewhere. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Wednesday afternoon through early Friday. Mostly clear Friday night through Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 35/70/39/69 | Reedley 36/71/39/69 | Dinuba 35/70/39/69 |
| Porterville 39/71/40/68 | Lindsay 37/70/40/68 | Delano 39/71/41/70 |
| Bakersfield 43/71/45/68 | Taft 43/69/49/67 | Arvin 40/71/42/68 |
| Lamont 41/71/42/69 | Pixley 38/70/39/69 | Tulare 35/70/39/68 |
| Woodlake 37/70/39/70 | Hanford 36/71/40/70 | Orosi 35/70/39/70 |
Winds Discussion: Winds from roughly the San Joaquin River north and along the west side will be out of the northwest this evening at 15 to 25 MPH with gusts to 35 MPH possible. Winds elsewhere will be mainly out of the west to northwest at 5 to 12 MPH, becoming light after midnight. Winds Wednesday will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 MPH, becoming light and variable Wednesday night. Winds late Thursday through Friday will increase along the west side out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts with generally light winds elsewhere.
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 24/am