January 26, 2023
Clear skies are widespread over central California as of the noon hour. But this is just preliminary ahead of a major shift in the pattern which will begin during the second half of the weekend and early next week. currently, there is an elongated low developing over western Canada which will form a closed low over northern California Sunday. Forecast models continue to indicate this will be a largely dry event for the valley floor but they do show snow showers down the Sierra Nevada and over the Kern County mountains and deserts Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. This will also generate a strong off shore flow which will contribute to a couple of very cold nights next week. models place the center of a cold core low right over central California Monday morning with snow down to low elevations over the mountains. The light shower activity over the mountains will spread over southern California Monday, leaving a cold north/northeast flow down the valley. This, coupled with an off shore flow with a modified arctic air mass, will result in two cold weather days: Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday may also be very cold. A hard freeze still looks likely, which is discussed in the frost summary below.
Forecast: Mostly clear with patchy fog tonight. A mix of high clouds and sunshine Friday through Saturday with patchy morning fog. Partly cloudy Saturday night. Variable cloudiness Sunday through Monday with a chance of sprinkles or widely scattered light showers. Mostly clear and cold Tuesday through Wednesday night. Increasing clouds Thursday.
Temperatures:
| Madera 32/61/34/59 | Reedley 32/62/33/58 | Dinuba 31/61/32/58 |
| Porterville 31/62/32/62 | Lindsay 30/60/31/59 | Delano 33/63/33/59 |
| Bakersfield 38/60//38/59 | Taft 40/59/40/57 | Arvin 35/62/36/59 |
| Lamont 34/61/35/60 | Pixley 32/60/33/60 | Tulare 31/59/32/59 |
| Woodlake 31/61/32/60 | Hanford 33/61/34/61 | Orosi 31/60/32/59 |
Wind Discussion: Winds will be generally at or less than 7 mph late mornings and afternoons and variable in nature. winds during the night and morning hours will be light with extended periods of near calm conditions through Sunday.
Rain: We are still looking at mainly Sunday afternoon into Monday morning for a minimal chance of widely scattered light showers over the valley floor. models do show light snow showers spreading down the Sierra Nevada and over the Kern County mountains and deserts late Sunday into Monday morning. Dry weather will quickly return Monday afternoon. We may have another chance of showers coming up next Thursday.
Frost: Temperatures tonight should be a degree or two milder at most locations than last night, generally ranging in the lower 30s with only a small chance of upper 20s in those frog ponds out there. Similar conditions can be expected Saturday morning. With some luck, most locations will be above freezing Sunday and Monday due to increased cloud cover ahead of a dry low pressure system moving through.
We will have a very tricky forecast coming up Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Modified arctic air will dive southward behind a cold, fairly dry weather system moving through Monday morning. This system will trigger a strong off shore wind event for southern California which will move colder and drier air down the valley via mixing and will also bring about some strong northerly winds along the west side of the valley. Dew points will likely fall well into the 20s Monday afternoon, setting the stage for a possible hard freeze Tuesday morning with a greater risk Wednesday. Currently, the coldest locations Tuesday and Wednesday mornings have the potential of dropping to 23 to 25 with a general freeze between 26 and 29 degrees. Even hillsides may drop below freezing for a change. It’s also possible we could be dealing with this Thursday morning, as well.
Luckily, models continue to show a trough of low pressure moving onto the west coast which will reverse the off shore flow, possibly even spreading rain into northern California. One more piece of news is the fact this may be the first of a few rain episodes after the long dry spell we’ve had of late.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
32 |
Porterville
31 |
Ivanhoe
30 |
Woodlake
31 |
| Strathmore
31 |
McFarland
30 |
Ducor
32 |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
30 |
Exeter
30 |
Famoso
32 |
Madera
32 |
| Belridge
30 |
Delano
31 |
North Bakersfield
31 |
Orosi
31 |
| Orange Cove
32 |
Lindcove
30 |
Lindcove Hillside
af |
Sanger River Bottom
28 |
| Root creek
30 |
Venice Hill
31 |
Rosedale
31 |
Jasmine
32 |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
31 |
Mettler
32 |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
32 |
Holland Creek
29 |
Tivy Valley
31 |
| Kite Road South
29 |
Kite Road North
31 |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: January 27 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.