May 18, 2021
Weak upper level high pressure has shifted eastward into California while the low has now moved into New Mexico. There remains a strong difference in surface pressure between northern California and the Desert Southwest. The current barometric reading at SFO is 30.09 while Las Vegas is reporting 29.77 inches of mercury. This will result in above average wind conditions today, especially along the west side.
In the meantime, a low is developing over the Pacific Northwest. It will drop into northern California Wednesday for the beginning of a substantial cooling trend. The low will slide southward into California Thursday through Saturday. there will be a chance of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada, especially Friday and Saturday.
For now, blended models indicate about a 10% to 15% chance of isolated showers over the valley floor, especially near the foothills. The main impact will be gusty winds at times with temperatures falling into the low to mid 70s Thursday through Saturday.
The low will begin to weaken Saturday night through Sunday and will shift into the interior west Monday, allowing upper level high pressure to build in from the west. We could be in the lower 90s by Tuesday of next week.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Thursday night. Partly cloudy Friday through Saturday night. mostly clear Sunday through Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 87/49/83/46/74 | Reedley 88/50/84/47/75 | Dinuba 87/49/84/46/74 |
| Porterville 88/50/84/47/75 | Lindsay 87/48/88/46/74 | Delano 88/51/84/48/75 |
| Bakersfield 88/58/85/54/74 | Taft 86/61/83/55/75 | Arvin 88/54/85/51/75 |
| Lamont 89/55/85/50/75 | Pixley 87/49/84/47/75 | Tulare 87/49/85/46/75 |
| Woodlake 88/49/83/46/74 | Hanford 88/51/84/48/74 | Orosi 87/48/84/46/74 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Friday
Partly cloudy 45/74 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 46/76 |
Sunday
Mostly clear 49/80 |
Monday
Mostly clear 52/85 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 54/91 |
Two Week Outlook: May 25 through May 31: This model is now indicating a trough of low pressure will be along the west coast, resulting in near to marginally below average temperatures. The chance of rain during this period will remain very low.
May: The old familiar 30 day outlook indicates above average temperatures for the western US including California. Since we’re now entering the dry season, expect precipitation to be almost nonexistent.
May, June, July: If you go by the guidance of this model, temperatures as we move into the summer months will be hotter than average. Expect typically dry weather.
Winds Discussion: Winds will be mainly out of the northwest today at 8 to 15 MPH. gusts to 25 MPH are possible, mainly along the west side. Winds tonight will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 10 MPH. there will be periods of winds late Wednesday through Friday out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH at times. Gusts to 30 MPH will be possible Thursday and Friday, mainly along the west side but locally elsewhere.
Rain Discussion: Another closed low will be overhead Thursday through Saturday for the likelihood of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada. The chance of rain over the valley floor Friday and Saturday is at or less than around 15%, especially near the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Expect dry conditions Saturday night and beyond.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 40s. Low to mid 40s
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 87%/16% Porterville, 74%/14%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 100%. Bakersfield: Today: 100% Tomorrow: 100%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. ET RATES WERE UN-AVALIBLE FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS. Stratford 2.16, Parlier 1.83, Arvin 1.98, Orange Cove 2.03, Porterville 1.86, Delano 1.85. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 67, Parlier 75, Arvin, 72, Orange Cove 75, Porterville 80, Delano 73.
Record Temperatures: 103/42. Average Temperatures: 83/58
Cooling Degree Days This Season:. 144 +32 Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 71.8 +4.2 courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.59 or -3.91 or 63% of average. Month to Date: .00 or -25
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 2.77, +or- -3.41 or 45% of average. Month to date .00 or -.17
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, , Parlier, , Arvin, , Belridge, , Shafter, , Stratford, , Delano, , Porterville,
Hours at 45 or below 45. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise: 5:48 am Sunset: 8:03 Hours of Daylight: 14:14
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 82 / 54 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 83 / 52 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 85 / 58 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 86 / 58 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 86 / 54 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 85 / 61 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 85 / 56 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 86 / 55 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1649 / 86 / 61 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 78 / 51 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.88 58 8.13 60 13.49 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 7.12 57 6.86 55 12.48 12.27
MERCED 0.00 7.00 61 M M 11.44 11.80
MADERA 0.00 M M M M 10.41 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 6.59 63 M M 10.50 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 4.29 55 M M 7.86 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.77 45 M M 6.18 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 1.62 38 2.25 53 4.25 4.84
SALINAS T 5.75 47 9.06 74 12.28 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.74 57 11.36 96 11.86 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.87 53 10.45 80 13.04 13.32
Next report: May 19/AM