February 9, 2022
The seemingly endless string of warm, dry afternoons continues today. Again this afternoon, highs will reach into the low to mid 70s. The air aloft is certainly warm. Above Oakland earlier today, the balloon sounding pegged the freezing level 13,100 feet. The warmest in this series will occur over the weekend as strong upper level high pressure currently centered just off the northwest California coast sinks southward over central and southern California Friday through Sunday. Records will topple this weekend over many locations in central and southern California with warmest locations on the valley floor nearing or even surpassing the 80 degree mark. More seasonal weather is finally on the horizon. Low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska will move south/southeast over the Pacific Northwest Sunday night and Monday then into the Great Basin Tuesday. Some models show the western side of the low arcing over central California Tuesday. This would definitely spread light showers over the southern Sierra Nevada. I believe it is time to add a chance of light showers to the forecast for the valley floor Tuesday. Currently, it looks like if any precipitation does occur, it would be pretty spotty. Temperatures would also fall back to seasonal values with readings falling from near 80 Sunday to near 60 by Wednesday. This system will pull into the Rockies Wednesday as we move back to a blockading ridge of high pressure.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Sunday with unusually warm afternoons and continued hazy. Increasing cloudiness Monday. Variable cloudiness Monday night through Tuesday night with a chance of scattered light showers late Monday night and Tuesday. Partly cloudy Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 37/75/39/77 | Reedley 38/76/38/77 | Dinuba 36/74/38/76 |
| Porterville 35/75/37/78 | Lindsay 34/74/36/77 | Delano 38/76/39/78 |
| Bakersfield 45/76/47/78 | Taft 51/75/53/77 | Arvin 39/76/41/79 |
| Lamont 40/76/41/79 | Pixley 36/77/37/78 | Tulare 34/74/36/77 |
| Woodlake 34/74/36/75 | Hanford 37/76/38/77 | Orosi 34/74/37/77 |
Wind Discussion: Winds will be generally at or less than 7 MPH with periods of near calm conditions through Saturday.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through at least Monday. On Monday night and Tuesday, a low center will drop out of the Pacific Northwest and into the Great Basin. There are models this afternoon showing the western flank of this low arcing over California Tuesday. This configuration would give a likelihood of light showers to the Sierra Nevada and a chance of scattered light showers over the valley floor. For that reason, we have added a chance of light showers to the forecast for late Monday night and Tuesday. This system will pull away rather quickly. Wednesday and at least the next several days will be dry.
Frost: Expect overnight lows to be above freezing for the next 5 to 7 days.
Next report: February 10