December 20, 2022
Much of the valley is still blanketed in a layer of low clouds. The base of the overcast ranges between 200 and 600 feet. There are pockets of clearing here and there but so far there seems to be less clearing today than yesterday, especially in the south valley. High temperatures this afternoon will be directly related to clearing and for how long it clears. There is also a layer of higher clouds moving from northwest to southeast across central California which is also having an affect on the lower level clouds. The higher cloud deck is slowing the process of the burn off of the lower deck. Upper level high pressure is also slowly expanding from its center off the southern California coast. By Thursday night and Friday, the high will have built far enough north to result in somewhat above average temperatures in the foothills and mountains but generally below average temperatures on the valley floor due to a pool of moist air at the bottom of the valley. By late Friday and Saturday, the high will begin to break down over the Pacific Northwest. This will allow a westerly flow to break into California. This will break up the inversion and will also allow milder air to reach the valley floor. As this process continues, the storm track will progressively move southward. By late Tuesday or Wednesday rain will spread over northern California and possibly central California. Along with the increased possibility of precipitation will come above average temperatures and high snow levels due to the lower latitude of these storms.
Forecast: areas of fog and low clouds nights and mornings with some clearing in the afternoons through Friday. Areas of fog and low clouds nights and mornings, otherwise it will be partly cloudy Saturday and Sunday. Increasing cloudiness Monday with a slight chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday.
Temperatures:
| Madera 33/55/34/57 | Reedley 32/54/33/55 | Dinuba 31/53/32/54 |
| Porterville 32/55/33/56 | Lindsay 31/53/32/54 | Delano 33/53/34/54 |
| Bakersfield 35/55/38/57 | Taft 38/55/40/57 | Arvin 33/54/33/55 |
| Lamont 31/54/33/56 | Pixley 32/53/32/55 | Tulare 31/54/32/54 |
| Woodlake 33/53/33/54 | Hanford 32/52/32/54 | Orosi 31/54/31/55 |
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 Friday.
Rain: It still appears that it will be at least a week before our next legitimate chance of rain returns. Mild Pacific storms will begin moving inland to our north around Monday then, as each successive wave of low pressure moves inland, it will move inland a bit farther south until rain reaches into southern California late next week.
Frost: Much of the valley is still under a cold, gray overcast. Where the fog clears, it will return as ground fog late tonight. Locations that remain relatively clear have a chance to fall into the lower 30s. most other locations will drop into the mid 30s. local effects could cause river bottom areas to brush with the upper 20s. the inversion tonight will be decent, ranging from 4 to 7 degrees warmer at most locations. Like the past two nights, temperatures will largely depend on fog behavior. One thing is clear however, temperatures will be well above critical levels.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
31 |
Porterville
32 |
Ivanhoe
31 |
Woodlake
32 |
| Strathmore
31 |
McFarland
30 |
Ducor
32 |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
32 |
Madera
32 |
| Belridge
30 |
Delano
32 |
North Bakersfield
33 |
Orosi
31 |
| Orange Cove
32 |
Lindcove
30 |
Lindcove Hillside
af |
Sanger River Bottom
27 |
| Root creek
30 |
Venice Hill
32 |
Rosedale
33 |
Jasmine
32 |
| Arvin
32 |
Lamont
31 |
Plainview
31 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
32 |
Maricopa
31 |
Holland Creek
33 |
Tivy Valley
30 |
| Kite Road South
33 |
Kite Road North
30 |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: December 21 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.