January 4, 2022
A weak wave of low pressure is currently moving through northern California. Light showers have spread as far south as Santa Rosa on the coast, Roseville in the Sacramento Valley and Tahoe along the Sierra Nevada. This system is moving from west to east so any precipitation will remain north of our district. This is a fast moving system so upper level high pressure will quickly take over, building northward into the Pacific Northwest tonight through Thursday night. On Friday, a lower latitude storm will move quickly through the northern half of California. Models still indicate the southern limit of measurable rain will be roughly to Fresno County Friday and Friday night. The main dynamics of this system will remain in Oregon and northern California, so if precipitation does reach into the valley, amounts are likely to be a tenth of an inch or less.
Behind this system, the pattern will become very amplified. A high center will develop over the Great Basin and race northward into western Canada. The northern reaches of this high will reach into the northwest territories of Canada. This allows polar air masses to slide southward east of the Rockies with generally above average temperatures for central California.
The main challenge after this coming Friday will be areas of low clouds and fog and how extensive it becomes.
Forecast: Variable cloudiness at times today. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy tonight through Thursday night with increasing cloudiness Friday morning leading to a minimal chance of light showers, mainly from Fresno County northward Friday and Friday night. Mostly cloudy Friday night and Saturday morning. Mostly clear Saturday afternoon through Wednesday with increasing amounts of night and morning fog and low clouds.
Short Term:
| Madera 56/35/54/38/55 | Reedley57/37/53/38/56 | Dinuba 55/35/54/38/56 |
| Porterville 57/37/53/39/56 | Lindsay 57/35/53/37/56 | Delano 57/38/54/39/55 |
| Bakersfield 57/41/54/41/56 | Taft 55/43/55/43/56 | Arvin 57/37/53/39/56 |
| Lamont 57/37/53/39/57 | Pixley 56/36/54/38/55 | Tulare 54/35/53/37/54 |
| Woodlake 56/36/54/37/56 | Hanford 57/37/53/38/55 | Orosi 55/35/53/37/55 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Friday
Showers possible 41/57 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 40/56 |
Sunday
AM fog/PM sun 37/57 |
Monday
AM fog/PM sun 35/57 |
Tuesday
AM fog/PM sun 38/58 |
Two Week Outlook: January 11 through January 17: This model has reverted to a dry forecast with above average temperatures.
January: This model doesn’t really indicate a trend that would favor above or below precipitation. The active storm track in the Pacific Northwest will continue. Both temperatures and precipitation should be close to seasonal averages.
January, February, March: The trend of below average temperatures of late continues on the 90 day forecast which indicatesemperatures will be slightly below average. Below average precipitation is anticipated over the Desert Southwest and the southern half of California with near average precipitation from Fresno County north.
Wind Discussion: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Thursday. Winds Friday will be mainly out of the east to southeast at 8 to 15 MPH with locally stronger gusts, mainly from Fresno County north.
Rain: The only chance of rain for the next week to ten days will be on Friday and Friday night. Light showers will be likely from Merced County north, but even there only a tenth of an inch or less is anticipated. It’s possible a few sprinkles could occur south of Fresno County, but the south valley will essentially remain dry. A strong persistent ridge of high pressure is expected to build over the west after Friday night for a prolonged period of dry weather.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight but possibly just slightly above in the coldest river bottom type locations. Dew points are generally 4 to 6 degrees higher than 24 hours ago due to a weakening weather system moving in to our north. A westerly flow aloft is also evident which will continue to modify the atmosphere. Daytime highs and overnight lows will be close to seasonal averages for the remainder of the week. Highs will be mainly in the mid to upper 50s and overnight lows generally in the mid to upper 30s. models still show cold air masses moving in east of the Rockies. But there’s nothing on modeling information indicating any of this air will move into California for at least the next ten days.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 96%/50% Porterville, 100%/81%. Dew points: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 40%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 60%/. Tomorrow, 50%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford .27, Parlier .23, Arvin .26, Orange Cove .NA, Porterville .24, Delano .23. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford, 52, Parlier 48, Arvin, .51, Orange Cove 51, Porterville 47, Delano 42. *=data missing.
Average Temperatures: 54/36. Record Temperatures: 71/22
Heating Degree Days This Season. 1021 -65 Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 5.21 or +1.77. Monthly .00 -.22
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 3.55 or +1.54. Month to date .00 -.12
Average Temperature this month: 42.7, -3.3 Taken NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: NA
Sunrise. 7:12, Sunset, 4:57, hours of daylight, 9:44
Yesterday’s Weather:
Id Name Elev Temp Temp Pcpn Depth
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 56 / 39 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 57 / 37 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 57 / 38 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 57 / M / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 57 / 34 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 58 / 40 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 57 / 34 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : M / M / 0.00 /
- Rainfall Stats: 24h season % l year % ave. ave. year
STOCKTON 0.00 8.21 173 1.94 41 4.74 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 8.15 200 1.54 38 4.07 12.27
MERCED 0.00 5.79 153 2.28 60 3.79 11.80
MADERA 0.00 M M 0.77 23 3.38 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 5.21 151 1.42 41 3.44 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 4.60 176 0.67 26 2.62 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.55 177 0.74 37 2.01 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 4.50 313 0.21 15 1.44 4.84
SALINAS 0.00 6.11 145 0.95 23 4.21 12.58
Next report: January 4 pm