March 25, 2021
A rather energized but moisture starved low pressure system is diving into Nevada and Utah this morning. the jet stream is zipping along at 150 MPH along the California/Nevada border. Strong differences in pressure will develop through tonight as barometers fall rapidly over the Desert Southwest with surface high pressure developing over the Pacific Northwest. This will set the stage for strong winds and wide areas of blowing dust over the desert regions of California and Arizona. The only precipitation out of this event will be over the high Sierra with possibly isolated showers over the Kern County mountains. A few sprinkles cannot be ruled out over the desert regions through Friday as a cold pool of air moves overhead.
It is typical in the spring to see wide swings in temperatures. That will be on display over the next three or four days. Upper level high pressure which has been lurking off shore all week will finally build eastward into the western 1/3 of the US over the weekend. High temperatures will eclipse 90 over the lower deserts and will eclipse 80 over the high deserts and the San Joaquin Valley.
From tonight through Friday, a layer of upslope clouds will bank up against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains then will dissipate Friday night and Saturday as the high moves overhead, bringing with it a warmer, drier air mass. A strong low will move out of the Gulf of Alaska Monday, moving through the Pacific Northwest and into the northern Rockies by Tuesday.
Forecast: Partly cloudy through Friday but remaining mostly cloudy in Kern County and eastern Tulare County through Friday night. Mostly clear later Friday night through Monday night. Mostly clear Monday night through Thursday.
Short Term:
| Madera 64/40/70/39/78 | Reedley 65/41/71/40/79 | Dinuba 64/40/70/39/79 |
| Porterville 65/42/70/39/80 | Lindsay 65/41/70/38/79 | Delano 65/42/71/40/80 |
| Bakersfield 63/45/70/47/80 | Taft 62/49/67/48/78 | Arvin 63/42/71/40/79 |
| Lamont 64/42/70/41/80 | Pixley 64/42/71/40/79 | Tulare 64/40/70/38/78 |
| Woodlake 64/42/71/40/78 | Hanford 65/41/71/40/79 | Orosi 64/40/71/39/79 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Sunday
Mostly clear 44/81 |
Monday
Mostly clear 45/82 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 44/78 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 48/82 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 47/83 |
Two Week Outlook: April 1 through April 7: 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: From Fresno County north and along the west side, winds this afternoon will increase out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH with stronger gusts. Elsewhere, winds will be mainly out of the northwest at around 8 to 15 MPH with stronger gusts. Winds Friday through Sunday will be light to near calm during the nights and morning hours and variable to no more than 15 MPH afternoons and evenings.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next seven to ten days, at least.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees for at least the next seven to ten days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 30s to the lower 40s. Upper 30s to the lower 40s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 91%/24% Porterville, 95%/26%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 70%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 50% Tomorrow: 70%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford 1.12, Parlier .96, Arvin .98, Orange Cove .90, Porterville 1.00, Delano 1.05. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 56, Parlier 59, Blackwell 52, Arvin, 59, Orange Cove 57, Porterville 59, Delano 55.
Record Temperatures: 85/32. Average Temperatures: 69/43
Heating Degree Days This Season: 2085. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 52.5, -2.5 courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.44 or -2.90 or 69% of average. Month to Date: 1.33 or -.32
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 2.58, +or- -2.76 or 48% of average. Month to date .77 or -.21
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: 6:53 am Sunset: 7:16 Hours of Daylight: 12:21
Yesterday’s Weather
:
: …Valley…
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 68 / 30 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 68 / 32 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 69 / 43 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 69 / 38 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 340 : DH1700 / 72 / 36 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 96 : DH1700 / 71 / 44 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 67 / 40 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 70 / 39 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1651 / 69 / 45 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 69 / M / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.84 67 7.05 60 11.78 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 7.12 66 5.62 52 10.77 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.97 69 M M 10.15 12.50
MADERA 0.00 1.55 16 M M 9.80 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.44 69 M M 9.34 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.13 50 M M 8.24 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.58 48 M M 5.34 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.62 41 1.73 44 3.96 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 5.70 52 7.71 71 10.86 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.73 61 9.59 86 11.11 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.86 57 8.54 71 11.97 13.95
Next report: March 25/pm