April 21, 2022
Showers have spread as far south as western Fresno County as of 6:00am. The cold front in northern California has slowed so it may be later this afternoon before precipitation works into the south valley. The parent low is west of the Washington coastline with a trough extending into northern California. By tonight, the low will be off the northwest California coast with precipitation spreading southward into the coastal and mountain areas of southern California. Models have decreased precipitation amounts for the valley. They still show a rain shadow along the west side and in Kern County, which is typical for winter type storms.
The low will finally move into Nevada Friday with a decreasing chance of showers by Friday afternoon. If we observe breaks in the overcast this afternoon, isolated thunderstorms will be possible as warm currents of air move skyward and interact with relatively cool air aloft. As of 6:00 this morning. The freezing level had dropped to near 6,000 feet near Oakland, so snow levels are at around 5,500 feet. This will lower to around 4,500 feet as that pool of cold air moves overhead.
Upper level high pressure will build over the weekend for the beginning of a significant warming trend. By Tuesday, readings will top out into the mid to upper 80s with above average temperatures continuing later next week through the following weekend.
Forecast: Showers spreading southward this morning as far south as Fresno County. Showers spreading into the south valley this afternoon. A chance of isolated thunderstorms will also be apparent this afternoon and evening. Periods of showers later tonight and Friday morning. Partly to mostly cloudy Friday afternoon. Mostly clear Friday night and Saturday but remaining mostly cloudy in Kern County into Saturday morning. Mostly clear Saturday afternoon through Thursday.
Short Term:
| Madera 70/46/66/40/73 | Reedley 72/47/68/43/74 | Dinuba 71/46/68/44/74 |
| Porterville 73/46/68/44/75 | Lindsay 73/46/68/44/73 | Delano 73/46/67/44/74 |
| Bakersfield 73/51/65/47/72 | Taft 72/52/62/50/68` | Arvin 73/48/69/47/71 |
| Lamont 73/49/66/44/74 | Pixley 72/45/67/41/73 | Tulare 71/44/66/41/72 |
| Woodlake 73/45/66/40/73 | Hanford 72/46/66/41/73 | Orosi 72/44/66/41/72 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Sunday
Mostly clear 43/73 |
Monday
Mostly clear 47/81 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 48/87 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 48/85 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 47/82 |
Two Week Outlook: April 28 through May 4: This model indicates a trough of low pressure will be moving into the western states, resulting in a chance of showers, mainly for northern California. Colder air aloft will also be associated with this feature, resulting in marginally below average temperatures.
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 today will be mainly out of the southeast at 8 to 15 mph with stronger gusts. Winds tonight and Friday will be mainly out of the west to northwest at 10 to 20 mph with stronger gusts, especially in the vicinity of showers. Winds Friday night will decrease to around 5 to 10 mph. Winds Saturday through Sunday will be generally at or less than 12 mph with periods of near calm conditions during the night and early morning hours.
Rain: High resolution models have decreased estimates of rainfall totals. Along the west side, and in Kern County, expect rainfall amounts to be around a tenth or two. That same rule of thumb can be applied to the valley portion of Kern County. We should receive between a quarter and a third of an inch from Porterville northward on the east side and as much as a half inch could accumulate from Madera through Merced Counties.
The main area of precipitation has stalled along a cold front, so showers may not reach Kern County until sometime this afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, so some locales could pick up more than a half inch.
Showers should end by midday Friday leading to dry weather which should last for a week, if not longer.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight and each night for the foreseeable future.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 74%/28% Porterville, 94%/37%. Midafternoon dew points: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 50%, tomorrow 40%. Bakersfield: Today: 40%/. Tomorrow, 50%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 1.49, Parlier 1.35, Arvin 1.58, Orange Cove 1.36, Porterville .1.32, Delano 1.35. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford, 57, Parlier 63, Arvin, 65, Orange Cove 62, Porterville 68, Delano 62. *=data missing.
Average Temperatures: 75/49. Record Temperatures: 98/36
Cooling Degree Days This Season. 45 +23. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.08 or -3.92. Monthly .00 -.70
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 5.01 or -.86. Monthly, -.46
Average Temperature this month: 62.9 +2.5 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. 6:16, Sunset, 7:40, hours of daylight, 13:22
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 76 / 52 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 75 / 50 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 75 / 53 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 76 / 46 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 78 / 52 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 77 / 54 / 0.00 /
: Visalia AP 292 : 75 / 47 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 76 / 48 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24h Seas % LY % Ave 365
- STOCKTON 00 9.21 74 7.84 63 12.44 13.45
- MODESTO 00 8.79 79 7.12 64 11.17 12.27
- MERCED 00 7.05 65 6.97 64 10.82 11.80
- MADERA 00 M M M M 9.92 10.79
- FRESNO 00 6.08 61 6.44 64 10.00 10.99
- HANFORD 00 5.80 77 4.13 55 7.49 8.13
- BAKERSFIELD 00 5.01 85 2.58 44 5.87 6.36
- BISHOP 00 4.75 117 1.62 40 4.07 4.84
- SALINAS 00 7.13 60 5.72 48 11.85 12.58
- PASO ROBLES T 52 74 6.73 58 11.53 12.15
- SANTA MARIA 00 7.41 59 6.86 54 12.59 13.32
Next report: April 22
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.