March 21, 2022
The storm which resulted in light showers over the valley this past weekend has raced eastward and is now centered over New Mexico. This is allowing strong upper level high pressure to shift into California with a ridge building northward into the Pacific Northwest. Typically, the beginning of a warming trend is more dramatic over the mountain areas. Sandberg, at an elevation of 4,100 feet is 5 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago while Blue Canyon near 5,600 feet is 13 degrees warmer. The freezing level taken a short time ago above Oakland has risen to 11,700 feet. This will be the warmest week of the spring season so far as temperatures climb well into the 80s. warmest locations will hit 80 as early as tomorrow afternoon. I wouldn’t rue out a a hot spot teasing with the 90 degree mark, especially Thursday and Friday although most locations will end up in the upper 80s. the high will begin to break down during second half of the weekend. This is the sixth day in a row models have been pointing towards a major trough of low pressure moving through from the 27 through the 29, or next Sunday through Tuesday. Along with an increase in a chance of precipitation will come much cooler temperatures.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies with a warming trend through Thursday. Mostly clear and continued warm Thursday night through Saturday.. Partly cloudy Saturday night.. increasing cloudiness Sunday. A chance of showers Sunday night and Monday
Short Term:
| Madera 72/43/80/47/86 | Reedley 72/44/79/48/85 | Dinuba 70/42/79/48/85 |
| Porterville 71/43/80/4/87 | Lindsay 71/41/82/46/86 | Delano 71/47/80/50/87 |
| Bakersfield 70/42/81/57/87 | Taft 69/57/78/61/84 | Arvin 71/48/82/51/87 |
| Lamont 72/48/82/53/88 | Pixley 71/42/82/48/87 | Tulare 70/42/80/46/85 |
| Woodlake 71/41/81/47/86 | Hanford 72/44/81//51/85 | Orosi 72/46/80//48/85 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Thursday
Mostly clear 49/87 |
Friday
Mostly clear 49/87 |
Saturday
Mostly clear 51/86 |
Sunday
Pm showers 52/85 |
Monday
Chance of showers 48/76 |
Two Week Outlook: March 26 through April 1: Upper level high pressure will build into the western ¼ of the US, resulting in a period of dry weather with temperatures rising to above average.
March: The 30 day outlook for the month of March really does not show much guidance for either precipitation or temperatures. Essentially what it says is near average temperatures with near average precipitation.
March, April, May: The March, April, May period moves us into the traditional beginning of the dry season. This model is showing below average precipitation for most of the state. Guidance is fairly flat as far as temperatures are concerned as it indicates near average temperatures.
Wind Discussion: Winds through Thursday will be mainly out of the northwest afternoons and evenings at around 5 to12 mph. during the night and morning, winds will be generally at or less than 5 mph with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Expect dry conditions through at least Saturday night. Models for the past 5 or 6 days have been showing a strong trough of low pressure moving through California this coming Sunday through Tuesday. Since there’s a strong trend on models, we are definitely taking this seriously. It’s possible we could see measurable rain as early as Sunday, but for now, it looks like the best chance will be Monday and Tuesday of next week. This will be our one and only opportunity to rack up some rain this month as another strong high shows up behind this system.
Frost: Expect above freezing temperatures indefinitely.
Actual Humidity range Yesterday: Delano, NA%/NA% Porterville, 99%/54%. Midafternoon dew points: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 90%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 90%/. Tomorrow, 90%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.08, Parlier .87, Arvin .99, Orange Cove .87, Porterville .85, Delano NA. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford, 54, Parlier 58, Arvin, 58, Orange Cove 56, Porterville 58, Delano 53. *=data missing.
Average Temperatures: 68/45. Record Temperatures: 88/30
Heating Degree Days This Season. 2069 -103. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 5.45 or -3.13. Monthly .20 -1.07
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 4.54 or -.51. Monthly, .87 +.08
Average Temperature this month: 55.1 -0.7 Taken NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 973, Parlier, 1129, Arvin, 953, Belridge, 1016, Shafter, 934 Stratford, 1116, Delano, 1113, Porterville, 1157. courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise. 6:59, Sunset, 7:13, hours of daylight, 12:11
Yesterday’s weather:
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 71 / 44 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 70 / 40 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 65 / 47 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 66 / 42 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 69 / 38 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 64 / 50 / 0.02 /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 65 / 43 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 63 / 43 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24h Seas % LY % Ave 365
STOCKTON 0.00 8.36 76 7.84 71 10.97 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 8.23 84 7.12 72 9.83 12.27
MERCED 0.00 6.31 67 6.97 75 9.35 11.80
MADERA 0.00 M M 1.55 18 8.59 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 5.45 64 6.44 75 8.58 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 5.30 83 4.13 64 6.41 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.02 4.54 90 2.58 51 5.05 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 4.50 120 1.62 43 3.75 4.84
SALINAS 0.00 6.41 61 5.70 54 10.46 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 7.55 73 6.73 65 10.36 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.38 58 6.86 62 11.08 13.32
Next report: March 21 pm
At John Hibler Weather Forecasting, it is our goal to provide the most accurate forecasts available. Weather forecasting, unlike any other business, invites errors. Weather, by nature, is chaotic. It is our goal to be as accurate as humanly possible.