April 15, 2022
Skies are clear this morning with the exception of Kern County where upsloping against the north facing slopes of the Tehachapis has formed a cloud deck. The base of the overcast above Meadows Field was right at 6,000 feet. These clouds will mix out later today as drier air moves in aloft. A zonal flow, or a westerly flow, continues across the eastern Pacific and into California. About every 48 to 72 hours, disturbances embedded within this flow move into northern and central California. The next system is somewhat stronger and is moving across the eastern Pacific at a slightly lower latitude. As it moves on shore, precipitation will spread over central California, mainly north of Kern County, though a few light showers in Kern County would not be a total shock. The fact that this system is a fast mover means precipitation totals will be generally light. Two more systems are out there. The next one upstream will arrive Tuesday, spreading showers over northern California. However, the southern limit of the rain line will generally be north of a Stockton/Yosemite line Tuesday. Models show a stronger trough of low pressure digging southward, spreading precipitation over most of California Thursday of next week as a fairly significant late season storm moves inland. We’ll keep you posted on the progress of this system.
Forecast: Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy through tonight. However, it will remain mostly cloudy this morning in Kern County. Increasing cloudiness tonight with a chance of showers from Fresno north after midnight. Showers becoming likely north of Kern County Saturday morning with a chance down into Kern County. The chance of showers will diminish Saturday afternoon. Partly cloudy Saturday night through Monday except remaining mostly cloudy Saturday night through Monday morning in Kern County. Variable cloudiness Tuesday and Tuesday night. Partly cloudy Wednesday and Wednesday night. A chance of showers Thursday through Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 75/46/70/42/78 | Reedley 75/45/71/44/79 | Dinuba 74/47/71/44/78 |
| Porterville 75/46/71/43/78 | Lindsay 75/46/72/42/78 | Delano 75/50/71/45/79 |
| Bakersfield 74/52/71/50/77 | Taft 71/55/67/53/75 | Arvin 76/50/71/45/79 |
| Lamont 76/52/71/47/79 | Pixley 75/49/71/43/78 | Tulare 73/48/72/42/78 |
| Woodlake 74/47/71/44/79 | Hanford 75/50/72/45/79 | Orosi 74/47/71/43/78 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Monday
Partly cloudy 43/78 |
Tuesday
Variable clouds 46/80 |
Wednesday
Partly cloudy 45/76
|
Thursday
Chance of showers 46/78 |
Friday
AM showers 46/77 |
Two Week Outlook: April 22 through April 28: This model shows a northwest flow in the upper atmosphere maintaining near to marginally below average temperatures. The storm track will remain mainly in the Pacific Northwest and northern California, so the chance of rain remains low.
April: April is a transition month as we move from springtime weather to early summer weather at the end of the month. This model indicates above average temperatures over the southern half of the Golden State with near average temperatures over northern and central California. Precipitation will range below average.
April, May, June: This model shows above average temperatures over the Desert Southwest, stretching westward to California. With high pressure generally in control, expect below average precipitation…which doesn’t mean much now that we’re headed into the dry season.
Wind Discussion: Winds during the night and morning hours will be generally at or less than 7 mph with periods of near calm conditions through Monday. During the afternoon and early evening hours, winds will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 15 mph with locally stronger gusts.
Rain: The next weather system to affect the valley will move quickly through late tonight and Saturday morning. This storm is moving inland at somewhat a lower latitude, so light showers will be likely north of Kern County late tonight and Saturday morning with a chance of light showers in Kern County. From generally a Porterville line north, .10 to .20 is possible with possibly as much as .25 in Madera and Merced Counties. Expect less than .10 along the west side. In Kern County, a few hundredths could occur. Dry weather will return by late Saturday afternoon and continue until Thursday of next week. models indicate a fairly significant trough of low pressure will move through for a chance of rain throughout the growing area next Thursday into Friday. Otherwise it will be dry from Saturday night through Wednesday of next week.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight and each night for the foreseeable future.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 83%/34% Porterville, 89%/29%. Midafternoon dew points: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 70%, tomorrow 10%. Bakersfield: Today: 80%/. Tomorrow, 20%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.74, Parlier 1.34, Arvin 1.59, Orange Cove 1.39, Porterville .1.29, Delano 1.32. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford, 57, Parlier 64, Arvin, 65, Orange Cove 62, Porterville 68, Delano 61. *=data missing.
Average Temperatures: 73/48. Record Temperatures: 96/35
Cooling Degree Days This Season. 45 +28. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 5.99 or -3.82. Monthly .00 -.60
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 5.01 or -.74. Monthly, -.34
Average Temperature this month: 62.6 +2.6 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. 6:23, Sunset, 7:34, hours of daylight, 13:09
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 67 / 49 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 70 / 43 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 70 / 47 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 72 / 41 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 72 / 44 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 71 / 42 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 71 / 41 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / 68 / 32 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 71 / 37 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 66 / 45 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24h Seas % LY % Ave 365
STOCKTON T 9.08 74 7.84 64 12.22 13.45
MODESTO T 8.78 80 7.12 65 10.98 12.27
MERCED 0.00 6.71 63 6.97 66 10.59 11.80
MADERA 0.00 M M 1.55 16 9.74 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 5.99 61 6.44 66 9.81 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 5.80 79 4.13 56 7.34 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 5.01 87 2.58 45 5.75 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 4.75 118 1.62 40 4.03 4.84
SALINAS 0.00 6.91 59 5.70 49 11.67 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 8.48 74 6.73 59 11.44 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 7.40 60 6.86 55 12.43 13.32
Next report: April 16
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.