March 2, 2023
California is now on the eastern flank of weak high pressure, resulting in a northwest flow aloft. This high will dominate our weather through Saturday. A trough of low pressure, again from the Gulf of Alaska, will dig rapidly southward Saturday, spreading showers. By Saturday night, light showers will have spread as far south as Fresno County, then will spread over the remainder of the valley Sunday. This time around, we will be on the far southern flank of the low with the main dynamics of this system remaining in northern California. Only light showers are expected on the valley floor. lift over the Sierra Nevada could result in another foot or so of snow above the 4,000 foot elevation. Models show a persistent trough of low pressure over the Pacific Northwest and northern California with showers confined to the northern portion of the state. Models show a strong low developing Thursday off the coast of the Pacific Northwest with possibly an atmospheric river of moisture moving into the northern 2/3 of California Thursday night through Friday night. This afternoon’s model run shows the rain line migrating a bit further north, but it will still be close enough to possibly result in significant precipitation. models for next weekend and into the following week show a persistent low off the coast of the Pacific Northwest with disturbances running from west to east underneath the low, resulting in periods of active weather.
Forecast: Mostly clear and cold tonight. Mostly clear Friday and Friday night. Increasing clouds Saturday. A chance of light showers Saturday night, mainly from Fresno County north. Scattered light showers Sunday and Sunday night, mainly north of Kern County. Variable cloudiness at times Monday through Wednesday night. Increasing clouds Thursday with a chance of rain by evening.
Temperatures:
| Madera 30/57/35/59 | Reedley 31/58/35/59 | Dinuba 29/56/34/58 |
| Porterville 29/59/36/60 | Lindsay 29/58/36/60 | Delano 31/59/37/59 |
| Bakersfield 36/57/38/59 | Taft 38/57/39/58 | Arvin 32/59/37/60 |
| Lamont 33/59/38/60 | Pixley 30/57/36/59 | Tulare 29/57/35/58 |
| Woodlake 30/58/37/59 | Hanford 31/59/37/60 | Orosi 29/58/36/58 |
Wind Discussion: Winds will be generally at or less than 12 mph during the afternoons through Saturday. During the night and morning hours, winds will be generally at or less than 7 mph with periods of near calm conditions. Winds will become out of the southeast Saturday night and Sunday at 5 to 15 mph.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through Saturday. Light showers will spread down the valley Saturday night, at least as far south as Fresno County. Mainly light scattered showers can be expected Sunday and Sunday night, mainly north of Kern County. Rainfall amounts from this event at any given location are expected to be no more than a tenth or two. Dry weather will return Monday through at least Wednesday of next week. It varies from model run to model run, but the latest model run shows a strong low developing off the coast of the Pacific Northwest with a moist field of air moving into northern and central California Thursday night through Friday night with possibly significant amounts of precipitation. from next weekend and well into the following week, a persistent low will be off the coast of the Pacific Northwest with a strong westerly flow into California, embedded within this flow are disturbances which will give active weather from time to time.
Frost: Dew points as of midday are running in the mid 30s, which is very similar to24 hours ago. However, unlike last night, wind and cloud conditions will not affect the radiational cooling process. Some high clouds are streaming into northern California which will move overhead over the course of the night, but will largely be too thin to have much of an impact.
Coldest locations tonight, such as river bottoms, will dip to about 27 to 28 degrees. Most flatland locations will range from 29 to 33. Hillsides will be above freezing.
The inversion tonight will be decent with temperatures at 34 feet being a good 4 to 8 degrees warmer. Lows Saturday morning will largely be in the low to mid 30s. Increasing cloud cover may reach as far south as the valley in time to keep many locations above freezing. Above freezing conditions can be expected Sunday and Monday due to cloud cover.
From Tuesday through Thursday of next week, temperatures could potentially fall into the low to mdi 3os The pattern will remain active over the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Its possible cloud cover from this activity may move in and keep temperatures above freezing. A major winter storm will affect central California Thursday through Friday night for above freezing conditions. A westerly flow will set up over the weekend and beyond for a milder pattern, maintaining above freezing conditions.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
30 |
Porterville
29 |
Ivanhoe
29 |
Woodlake
30 |
| Strathmore
31 |
McFarland
30 |
Ducor
31 |
Tea Pot Dome
30 |
| Lindsay
29 |
Exeter
29 |
Famoso
30 |
Madera
30 |
| Belridge
29 |
Delano
31 |
North Bakersfield
31 |
Orosi
29 |
| Orange Cove
30 |
Lindcove
29 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
27 |
| Root Creek
29 |
Venice Hill
30 |
Rosedale
31 |
Jasmine
31 |
| Arvin
32 |
Lamont
32 |
Plainview
30 |
Mettler
33 |
| Edison
33 |
Maricopa
30 |
Holland Creek
32 |
Tivy Valley
29 |
| Kite Road South
32 |
Kite Road North
29 |
Next report: March 3 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.