April 12, 2022
Steep differences in pressure continue over central California this afternoon. The altimeter reading as of 1:00pm in San Francisco was 30.24 inches of mercury while at Salt Lake City the current reading is 29.85. Couple this with a 150 knot jet stream and the result is high winds over the Sierra Nevada and the Owens Valley. One location in the Owens Valley yesterday recorded a 110 mph wind gust. It’s not that windy over the valley this afternoon, but it is breezy. Winds at most locations are out of the northwest in the 15 to 25 mph range. Fresno is reporting gusts of 29 mph this hour and Hanford 26. These winds are driving dew points well down into the 20s, so the main focus of this forecast will be potential frost. Normally in a situation where dew points are this low, a potential freeze could occur. However, this time around with tremendous wind energy aloft, most locations should remain above freezing. My gut feeling is most of those low land regions tonight where winds are calm could drop down to 29 to 30 or so for short durations. Most locations, however, should range from 32 to 38.
The overall pattern shows a very intense low now entering the Midwest which will create a severe weather outbreak out there. A second low is west of the Washington coast and will sag into northern California Wednesday night and Thursday for a slight chance of showers as far south as Merced County. A third system could spread showers as far south as Fresno County Saturday. What we have is what we call a zonal flow, which is pretty much from west to east across the eastern Pacific and into California. Low pressure systems embedded within this flow come on shore roughly every 72 hours. Next week, we could see yet another on Tuesday with yet another on Friday.
Forecast: Mostly clear tonight through Wednesday. Increasing cloudiness Wednesday night leading to a slight chance of showers as far south as Merced County Thursday. Partly cloudy Thursday night. Becoming mostly clear Friday. Increasing cloudiness Friday night with a small chance of showers from Fresno County north Saturday into Saturday night. Mostly clear Sunday night and Monday. yet another chance of showers Tuesday.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
Af |
Porterville
Af |
Ivanhoe
32 |
Woodlake
Af |
| Strathmore
Af |
McFarland
32 |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
32 |
Famoso
Af |
Madera
Af |
| Belridge
31 |
Delano
Af |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
Af |
Lindcove
32 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
29 |
| Root Creek
31 |
Venice Hill
Af |
Rosedale
Af |
Jasmine
Af |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
Af |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
Af |
Holland Creek
af |
Tivy Valley
Af |
| Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
Af |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: April 13
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.