March 11, 2022
Relatively strong upper level high pressure is directly above California this afternoon. Temperatures at most locations are 2 to 3 degrees higher than 24 hours ago. Readings will end up generally in the mid 70s by the time everything is said and done. The high will break down over its northern flank tonight and Sunday, allowing the first in a series of Pacific storms to run from west to east through the Pacific Northwest. Light showers will spread into northern California, too far to the north to affect central California other than a cooling trend and variable amounts of cloud cover Sunday afternoon and night. A fast west to east flow will develop over the eastern Pacific Ocean, coming on shore in the Pacific Northwest with the trailing portions of storms spreading light showers into northern California. The strongest of these will pass to our north Monday night and Tuesday with a chance of light showers down to a Monterey/Merced line. There is a slight chance of sprinkles down to Fresno County. Disturbances will continue to move in to our north through the week until roughly Saturday night and Sunday when a stronger low will push further south for a chance of rain from Fresno County north and a slight chance of measurable rain south of that line. We will remain south of the storm track all week long. Temperatures will be guided primarily by the amount of cloud cover on any given day, but as a general rule will remain somewhat above average.
Forecast: Mostly clear tonight and Sunday morning. Variable cloudiness Sunday afternoon through Monday. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Monday night through Tuesday. Variable cloudiness Tuesday night and Wednesday with a slight chance of light showers from Merced north with a slight chance into Fresno County. Mostly clear Thursday through Saturday.
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Short Term:
| Madera 36/75/40/71 | Reedley 38/76/39/71 | Dinuba 36/74/39/70 |
| Porterville 37/76/38/71 | Lindsay 36/75/38/70 | Delano 39/77/40/72 |
| Bakersfield 42/77/43/69 | Taft 48/73/50/68 | Arvin 39/77/41/72 |
| Lamont 39/75/41/72 | Pixley 37/75/39/70 | Tulare 36/74/39/69 |
| Woodlake 36/75/38/70 | Hanford 39/75/40/70 | Orosi 36/74/38/70 |
Wind Discussion: Winds through the evening hours and along the west side from Merced southward to Kings County will be out of the northwest at 15 to 25 mph with locally stronger gusts. Elsewhere, winds will be out of the northwest at 5 to 12 mph with stronger gusts. By midnight, winds will be light and variable to near calm. Winds Friday through Sunday will be generally at or less than 12 mph with periods of near calm conditions. Winds during the afternoons will be mainly out of the northwest.
Rain: There will be a chance of light showers as far south as Merced County Saturday night and Sunday morning. Precipitation is not anticipated south of Merced County. A somewhat stronger disturbance will move through to our north Tuesday night and Wednesday with a renewed chance of light showers from Merced north and a slight chance down into Fresno County. Thursday through Saturday night will be dry. The best chance of precipitation will arrive next Saturday night and Sunday as another low tracks eastward a bit further south. Even so, we will remain south of the main storm track with a fairly decent chance of rain from Merced north and a smaller chance further south.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight, but only slightly above in the coldest low lying region. The flow aloft will become westerly for most of next week, resulting in not only a milder regime, but one with higher dew points. As a result, there will be no chance of frost for at least the next week and probably longer.
Next report: March 12