March 5, 2023
Light showers are widespread throughout the San Joaquin Valley this morning. This is due to a low center west of the Washington coast. A 150 knot jet stream is running from north to south then west to east across northern and central California. As it moves over the Sierra Nevada, it is lifted, creating heavy snow fall, especially north of Sequoia National Park where at least 3 feet of new snow will accumulate above the 5,000 foot elevation. The opposite is true on the valley floor where just generally light amounts of precipitation will be recorded, especially south of Fresno County. The low will remain pretty much in place through midweek, however models are showing the rain line moving back into northern California, so dry conditions can be expected Monday through Thursday. The fact that this cold trough will remain over the west coast, however, means temperatures will be a good 10 to 13 degrees below average. Models are still having a rough time nailing down a specific pattern for this coming weekend. If there’s any consensus, it’s that a west to east flow will begin across the eastern Pacific. Models show a low pressure system developing within this flow, possibly spreading showers into northern and central California from Friday night through Saturday night. This is similar to what was projected a few days ago, so perhaps there’s a possibility this pattern may actually develop. This system will be a lower latitude storm which would mean much higher snow levels with rain falling on a massive Sierra Nevada snow pack. Also, models are showing a milder westerly flow moving into California with active weather from time to time which could post run off problems in Sierra Nevada rivers and streams.
Forecast: Showers today. Partly cloudy tonight and Monday. mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Monday night through Thursday. Increasing cloudiness Thursday night. A chance of showers Friday into Saturday. Partly cloudy Sunday.
Temperatures: Highs today, Monday, and Tuesday will warm into the low to mid 50s. lows will generally be in the low to mid 30s.
Frost Discussion. The potential of the air mass now moving into California is for widespread low to mid 30s from Monday through Thursday night. Any night from Monday morning on has the potential of upper 20s in the coldest low lying locations with clear skies and no wind. Minor impulses of weather will be moving into northern California from time to time with potential in and out cloud cover. This endless pattern we’ve been under for the past month of well below average temperatures along with copious amounts of snow in the mountains will likely come to an end this coming weekend, possibly being replaced by a west to east flow which may result in milder rain from time to time and warmer temperatures.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
33 |
Porterville
32 |
Ivanhoe
31 |
Woodlake
32 |
| Strathmore
32 |
McFarland
31 |
Ducor
33 |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
30 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
33 |
Madera
32 |
| Belridge
30 |
Delano
33 |
North Bakersfield
33 |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
32 |
Lindcove
30 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
29 |
| Root Creek
29 |
Venice Hill
30 |
Rosedale
31 |
Jasmine
31 |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
af |
Plainview
31 |
Mettler
AF |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
Af |
Holland Creek
Af |
Tivy Valley
32 |
| Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
32 |
Next report: March 5 afternoon
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.