September 9, 2022
The northern edge of the cloud canopy from rapidly weakening tropical storm Kay was as far north as Kings and Tulare Counties. Rain had advanced as far north as Orange County along the coast and Riverside County inland. Flash flood warnings have been hoisted for portions of the Imperial Valley where one to two inches of rain has been measured over the past six hours with an additional one to two inches anticipated. As Kay weakens into a depression Saturday, the moisture field will unravel, spreading showers and isolated thunderstorms into central California. Precipitation estimates for Kern and Tulare Counties this afternoon are not quite as ominous as it had appeared even this morning. For now, a tenth to a quarter of an inch is anticipated for Kern and Tulare Counties. These models are showing the rain line moving further north so Fresno County could pick up one hundredth to a tenth of an inch between late tonight and Monday. keep in mind, this is a tropical system so realistically all bets are off. As tropical depression Kay continues to dissipate off the Baja California coastline, its moisture will continue to move northward into central California through Monday. it will likely be Tuesday before the westerlies break through, moving Miss Kay into the interior west. Models show a nice, deep trough of low pressure approaching the coast by next Wednesday with a westerly flow aloft, which is much more autumn-like. With a little bit of luck, by Thursday high temperatures will drop below the 90 degree mark. Once we’re done dealing with Kay, dry weather will prevail indefinitely.
Forecast: Increasing cloudiness tonight with a chance of showers, mainly in Kern County, after 3:00am. Showers likely Saturday through Sunday south of Fresno with a chance of light showers further north. A chance of showers, mainly near the mountains, Sunday night and Monday. partly cloudy Monday night. Mostly clear Tuesday through Friday.
Temperatures: Lows tonight will range in the mid to upper 70s but lower 80s in the urban areas. Highs Saturday in Kings and Tulare Counties will range in the upper 80s with lower 90s from Fresno County north. Lows Saturday night will drop into the low to mid 70s. Highs Sunday will warm into the upper 80s and lower 90s in the south valley and the low to mid 90s from Fresno County north.
Next report: Friday, September 9