June 17, 2021
Strong upper level high pressure over the Four Corners region has expanded westward over California and well off shore. Temperatures this morning on the valley floor are ranging from 4 to 6 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago. The air above the valley floor is down right hot. Grapevine Peak at around 4,500 feet is reporting 81 degrees as of 6:00am, Sandberg at 4,100 feet was reporting 84, and even way up at Bear Peak at 8,200 feet the temperature was 71 degrees…warmer than most valley locations.
The marine layer, as you might imagine, has been crushed and stands at 500 feet. Very hot weather will begin today, peaking Friday and Saturday as the high reaches its pinnacle. Bands of mid and high level clouds based at above 15,000 feet are rotating northward due to the clockwise flow around the high. Models indicate that intense daytime heating will result in short lived isolated thunderstorms over the high Sierra. One model actually shows a cell or two over the Kern County mountains.
The pattern will finally begin to change Sunday night and Monday, although triple digits will likely last through Tuesday. A weak low center will develop off the northern California coast, turning the winds aloft to west/southwest. At the surface, the marine layer will rapidly deepen, spilling initially through the Delta then other gaps and passes through the Coast Range. For now, it appears mid to upper 90s are likely for Wednesday with possible low to mid 90s Thursday.
Forecast: Mostly clear and extremely hot through Sunday. Mostly clear and hot Monday. Mostly clear Tuesday through Thursday with a cooling trend.
Short Term:
Madera 107/67/110/69/110 | Reedley 107/68/111/70/111 | Dinuba 105/67/109/68/110 |
Porterville 106/71/111/72/111 | Lindsay 105/70/110/70/110 | Delano 107/68/111/70/110 |
Bakersfield 107/83/112/84/111 | Taft 106/84/110/84/108 | Arvin 107/75/112/78/112 |
Lamont 107/76/111/78/111 | Pixley 106/68/111/70/111 | Tulare 105/67/109/69/110 |
Woodlake 105/68/110/70/110 | Hanford 106/69/111/71/112 | Orosi 105/67/109/69/110 |
Seven Day Forecast:
Sunday
Mostly clear 71/110 |
Monday
Mostly clear 67/105 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 62/100 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 59/95 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 56/93 |
Two Week Outlook: June 21 through June 29: this model shows a wide ranging high pressure system over the western US, resulting in above average temperatures and dry conditions.
June: This model is indicating a ridge of upper level high pressure will be more dominant over the Desert Southwest and, to a lesser extent, California, resulting in above average temperatures for the month with the usual dry conditions prevailing.
June, July, August: This model mimics the pattern of recent years, indicating high pressure over the Desert Southwest being the most dominant feature, resulting in above average temperatures. Theoretically, this pattern blocks monsoonal moisture from moving northward. Typically, there’s little to no precipitation anyway, and that will be the case this summer.
Winds Discussion: Winds during the afternoons and evenings will be generally out of the northwest at around 8 to 15 MPH. Winds during the night and morning hours will be generally at or less than 8 MPH with local gusts to 20 MPH afternoons and evenings along with periods of near calm conditions through Sunday.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Low to mid 50s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 70%/24% Porterville, 74%/23%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 70%. Bakersfield: Today: 90% Tomorrow: 70%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford 2.17, Parlier 1.91, Arvin 1.95, Orange Cove 2.10, Porterville 1.85, Delano 1.82. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 70, Parlier 75, Arvin, 75, Orange Cove 78, Porterville 85, Delano 76.
Record Temperatures: 109/49. Average Temperatures: 92/61
Cooling Degree Days This Season:. 430 +71 Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: 76.7 +2.3 courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.59 or -4.27 or 61% of average. Month to Date: .00 or -19
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 2.77, +or- -3.53 or 44% of average. Month to date .00 or -.04
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: 5:40 am Sunset: 8:21 Hours of Daylight: 14:40
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 90 / 63 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 91 / 63 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 92 / 66 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 92 / 65 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 93 / 63 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DHM / 90 / 68 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 92 / 64 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 92 / 62 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1651 / 90 / 67 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 88 / 59 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.88 59 8.35 63 13.34 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 7.12 59 6.94 57 12.16 12.27
MERCED 0.00 7.00 60 0.00 0 11.73 11.80
MADERA 0.00 M M 0.00 0 10.73 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 6.59 61 0.00 0 10.86 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 4.29 53 0.00 0 8.06 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.77 44 0.00 0 6.30 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 1.62 37 2.25 51 4.43 4.84
SALINAS 0.00 5.75 46 9.16 73 12.47 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.74 56 11.37 95 11.99 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.87 52 10.61 80 13.19 13.32
Next update: June 18/am