December 6, 2022 afternoon report

December 6, 2022

A weak upper low has moved southward parallel to the coast and is centered just west of Monterey this afternoon. Doppler radar shows widely scattered light showers over southern Monterey County and San Luis Obispo County. The low will continue heading southeastward and will be centered over Kern County during the predawn hours. The best chance of measurable rain will be along the west side and over Kern County tonight. By midday tomorrow, the low will be moving into the Desert Southwest. After that, we can enjoy some dry weather Wednesday through Thursday night before the next weather system begins to affect central California Friday. This system will phase in with the first phase moving through the growing area Friday with mainly just light showers. On Saturday, more significant precipitation will spread over the valley as the main trough of low pressure begins to move through over the weekend. As of this time, this coming weekend looks very active with periods of showers both on Saturday and Sunday. Some models actually show the back side of the storm remaining overhead until Monday. the Sierra Nevada will receive fairly significant precipitation. As much as an inch to an inch and a half is possible from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. The trough will shift into the interior west by midday Monday, ending the valley rain and mountain snow. Another weaker system will move out of the Gulf of Alaska and will arrive over northern and central California about a week from Thursday. This far out, we’ll take that with a grain of salt for now.

Forecast: Variable cloudiness tonight with a chance of light showers. Partly cloudy Wednesday after patchy morning fog. Mostly clear Wednesday night through Thursday night with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds. Increasing cloudiness Friday leading to a chance of rain Friday afternoon and night. Periods of rain Saturday through Sunday night. Partly cloudy Monday through Tuesday with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds.

Short Term:

Madera 37/57/33/56	Reedley 38/58/33/57	Dinuba 37/56/32/56
Porterville 36/57/32/57	Lindsay 36/57/31/56	Delano 39/58/33/57
Bakersfield 43/55/38/57	Taft 44/55/38/54	Arvin 42/58/35/57
Lamont 42/58/36/57	Pixley 39/58/32/57	Tulare 36/58/32/56
Woodlake 37/57/32/56	Hanford 38/58/33/57	Orosi 36/58/32/57

Wind Discussion: Winds during the later morning and afternoon hours will be generally at or less than 18 mph and variable in nature. Winds during the night and morning hours will be light and variable with extended periods of near calm conditions.

Rain: A weak upper air disturbance currently centered just west of Monterey will take a path through Kern County tonight, resulting in a chance of light showers. Areas of highest risk for measurable rain will be along the west side and over Kern County, which is the reverse of the typical winter storm. Amounts will be quite light with most locations recording no more than a tenth. Dry weather will prevail Wednesday through Thursday night. A fairly major winter storm will move into central California later Friday through Sunday night. The first phase of this event will come in the form of mainly light showers Friday and Friday night. More significant precipitation will occur Saturday through Sunday evening. It appears wetter locations could record between .25 and .50 with lesser amounts along the west side and in Kern County.

Frost: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight. Assuming there is not much cloud cover from tonight’s little storm remaining overhead or assuming fog and clouds do not take over we should see widespread low to mid 30s Thursday morning. On Friday morning, we may be just as chilly with a few riverbed locations brushing with the upper 20s. Saturday and Sunday will be above freezing due to an active pattern. another round of low to mid 30s will greet us Monday through Wednesday of next week as the air mass behind the weekend storm will be cold, but certainly nothing unusual for early December.

Lows Tonight:

Terra Bella

Porterville

Ivanhoe

Woodlake

Strathmore

McFarland

Ducor

Tea Pot Dome

Lindsay

Exeter

Famoso

Madera

Belridge

Delano

North Bakersfield

Orosi

Orange Cove

Lindcove

Lindcove Hillside

Sanger River Bottom

Root creek

Venice Hill

Rosedale

Jasmine

Arvin

Lamont

Plainview

Mettler

Edison

Maricopa

Holland Creek

Tivy Valley

Kite Road South

Kite Road North

AF=Above Freezing

Next report: December 7 morning

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.