December 30, 2022
We remain in a temporary reprieve from a pattern that continues to steer multiple waves of low pressure inland, running from west to east across the Pacific and into California. The next of these systems will begin to spread rain over central California later tonight, continuing through Saturday night. Using Porterville as an example, precipitation estimates come out to 1.30 with similar numbers along the east side of the valley north of Kern County. Over the next six days, again using high resolution models, from tonight through January 6 two to three inches is possible along the east side of the valley north of Kern County. One to two inches on the western side of Fresno County and much of Kings County and a half to an inch over the valley portion of Kern County. For now, the energy from this next system appears impressive followed by a series of weaker systems with one arriving every 24 to 36 hours or so. Some models for a system due in Thursday and Friday also appear impressive. Rain has to be put into the forecast every day of the coming week as the same synoptic pattern continues to show a flat zone of upper level high pressure roughly 2,000 miles to the west/southwest of LA with a rapid jet stream running over the top of the high directly into California. Both the 10 day and the two week models continue to indicate an active storm track at a considerably lower latitude. It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a pattern quite this active and for such a large chunk of time. So, it looks like we’ll enjoy active weather for at least the first week of the new year. Assuming we get a good drenching tomorrow, Fresno will top 5 inches for the month of December, which is almost half its annual total.
Forecast: Partly to mostly cloudy tonight with an increasing chance of rain after midnight. Rain Saturday and Saturday night, possibly locally heavy at times. We get a break on New Year’s Day with partly cloudy skies Sunday night. Rain at times Monday through Tuesday, tapering off in the afternoon. A chance of showers Tuesday night with periods of rain at times Wednesday through Friday, possibly locally heavy at times.
Temperatures:
| Madera 52/60/44/53 | Reedley 54/61/45/51 | Dinuba 51/59/44/53 |
| Porterville 52/61/45/52 | Lindsay 51/61/45/52 | Delano 53/60/45/53 |
| Bakersfield 53/61/47/52 | Taft 52/62/45/51 | Arvin 53/62/47/53 |
| Lamont 53/60/45/53 | Pixley 53/61/45/52 | Tulare 51/59/45/52 |
| Woodlake 52/60/44/53 | Hanford 53/60/44/53 | Orosi 51/60/45/52 |
Wind Discussion: Winds today will be mainly out of the south and southeast at 5 to 10 mph with stronger gusts. Winds Saturday through Sunday will be out of the southeast at 10 to 20 mph. Gusts as high as 30 mph will be possible from Fresno County north. Winds Monday will continue out of the southeast at 8 to 10 mph.
Rain currently, we are in a lull but rain is already spreading over northern California. The chance of rain will begin to increase tonight, especially after midnight and will be locally heavy at times Saturday into Saturday evening before tapering off. New Year’s Day and Sunday night will be dry then the next system will arrive Monday and Monday night with a chance of showers Tuesday and Tuesday night. Expect rain at times again Wednesday and last through Friday as multiple systems slide through.
Frost: Expect above freezing conditions.
Lows Tonight:
All locations will be above freezing tonight.
Next report: December 31 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.