December 19, 2022
As of noon, the temperature at Porterville was 42, Lemoore 41, Fresno 40, and both Merced and Madera were at 39. There were some breaks in the overcast in the south valley. However, from Fresno County north satellite imagery depicts a solid layer of low clouds stretching from near
Redding southward to near Merced. In areas that have cleared this afternoon, the fog will reform tonight unless a higher deck of clouds which happens to be streaming overhead becomes dense enough to slow the radiational cooling process. Upper level high pressure is off the California coast and is building a ridge into the gulf of Alaska. By Tuesday afternoon, the northern portion of the high will build into Alaska while a bitterly cold airmass charges southeastward into the intermountain west then southeastward into the eastern 2/3 of the US. Later in the week, we’ll find out how this impacts Florida citrus if at all. Right now, the way models are portraying this air mass, it will be the coldest in about half a century, especially right up the center of the nation, right when everyone is headed home from the holidays. This same amplified pattern will maintain above average temperatures over the western 1/3 of the US except where fog and low clouds are dominant. A new pattern will begin around Christmas eve as the northern portion of the western high breaks down, allowing a west to east flow to begin and moving a milder westerly flow into California. This could also be the beginning of a wet weather pattern, between Christmas and new year’s, at least for the northern half of the state.
Forecast: Fog and/or low overcast with partial afternoon clearing through Friday. Partly cloudy with areas of fog Friday night. Increasing cloudiness Saturday leading to a slight chance of showers Sunday through Monday.
Temperatures:
| Madera 34/46/33/48 | Reedley 33/47/35/48 | Dinuba 33/47/33/49 |
| Porterville 33/49/32/49 | Lindsay 32/46/33/48 | Delano 35/48/35/50 |
| Bakersfield 35/52/35/54 | Taft 39/55/41/57 | Arvin 34/51/34/52 |
| Lamont 33/52/34/52 | Pixley 33/46/35/52 | Tulare 32/48/33/51 |
| Woodlake 33/49/33/51 | Hanford 32/52/33/52 | Orosi 32/49/33/51 |
Notation: areas along the foothills and along fog banks may be colder.
Wind Discussion: Winds during the late morning and afternoons will be variable to 6 mph with periods of near calm conditions. Winds during the night and early morning hours will be light with periods of calm conditions through Thursday.
Rain: Expect dry weather to continue through at least Saturday. Latest models show a westerly flow in the atmosphere beginning this coming weekend. There is a trend developing that rain will begin over at least the top half of the state early next week. it’s still very much up in the air how far south the storm track will progress. From Christmas Day through New Year’s, however, there may be a couple of opportunities for us to pick up some rain.
Frost: Partial clearing has begun this afternoon, mainly in Kern County but locally elsewhere. However, the temperature dew point spread is very narrow, no more than 2 to 3 degrees at most locations. That means ground fog will have no problem forming after sunset. Locations that remain fairly clear deep into the evening have a chance to drop down into the 30 to 32 degree range, but with this much humidity in the air, upper 20s are doubtful with the possible exception of property right along fog banks. The inversion tonight will be fairly decent with temperatures at 34 feet ranging from 3 to 6 degrees warmer. The variable conditions we’ve been discussing the past few days, will continue though they will depend on how much clearing we observe on any given day. it does appear a milder pattern will begin during the second part of the weekend.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
Af |
Porterville
32 |
Ivanhoe
32 |
Woodlake
33 |
| Strathmore
33 |
McFarland
31 |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
33 |
| Lindsay
32 |
Exeter
32 |
Famoso
33 |
Madera
Af |
| Belridge
31 |
Delano
Af |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
32 |
Lindcove
31 |
Lindcove Hillside
af |
Sanger River Bottom
30 |
| Root creek
32 |
Venice Hill
33 |
Rosedale
33 |
Jasmine
Af |
| Arvin
34 |
Lamont
33 |
Plainview
32 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
32 |
Holland Creek
33 |
Tivy Valley
30 |
| Kite Road South
33 |
Kite Road North
30 |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: December 20 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.