March 8, 2023 pm
A little secondary low which developed over northern California overnight is now over north/central California and has managed to bring a few sprinkles as far south as Fresno County. Where the real weather is developing, however, is over the eastern Pacific Ocean as the first of at least three weather systems is gathering strength. This system will begin to spread cloud cover over the valley later Thursday morning with rain spreading in from the west during the early to mid afternoon. Now that this storm is knocking on our door, it is abundantly clear that this will be a prolific precipitation producer. The origins of this event are over the lower latitudes, thus there is large amounts of subtropical moisture contained within the low. The jet stream will be running from west to east right across northcentral California, meaning the lift of mountain ranges will play a large role in the amount of precipitation we potentially receive. Six inch plus totals will be common along the west facing slopes of the Sierra Nevada and along certain sections of the coast range. Even on the valley floor, 2 plus inches of rain are likely over the eastern portion of the valley. This is discussed below in the rainfall section. Rain will continue Thursday night through Friday night then break off into showers Saturday morning. There is even a chance of embedded thunderstorms with this event. The action will finally begin to wind down late Saturday with dry weather from Saturday night and lasting through most of the day Monday. storm number two is also a lower latitude event, equating into very high snow levels with significant amounts of rain beginning Monday night and lasting into Wednesday. The snow level will remain at roughly 8,000 feet. It still appears we will have 48 to 72 hours of dry weather later Wednesday night into Saturday of next week before the third system comes knocking on the door.
Forecast: Partly cloudy through Thursday morning. Increasing clouds in the afternoon with a chance of rain by evening. Rain likely Thursday night through Friday night, locally heavy at times. A chance of isolated thunderstorms from Thursday night through Saturday morning. Showers tapering off by Saturday afternoon. Partly cloudy Saturday night through Sunday night. Increasing cloudiness Monday. rain becoming likely again later Monday night and at times through Wednesday.
Temperatures:
| Madera 33/64/50/64 | Reedley 34/65/51/65 | Dinuba 32/63/50/64 |
| Porterville 33/66/52/66 | Lindsay 32/63/50/65 | Delano 34/65/52/65 |
| Bakersfield 40/66/53/65 | Taft 40/65/53/68 | Arvin 36/66/52/65 |
| Lamont 35/66/52/65 | Pixley 33/64/51/64 | Tulare 32/64/49/65 |
| Woodlake 33/64/48/65 | Hanford 34/63/52/65 | Orosi 32/63/49/64 |
Wind Discussion: Winds tonight will be generally at or less than 7 mph with periods of near calm conditions. Winds later Thursday will be out of the east to southeast at 8 to 15 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph Thursday night through Friday night with gusts to 30 mph along the west side and from Fresno County north. Winds Saturday will be variable to around 15 mph.
Rain: Satellite imagery illustrates it very well. A massive batch of cloud cover dominates the eastern Pacific Ocean. That is the storm that will spread precipitation over the region late Thursday and Thursday night, continuing through Friday night, locally heavy at times. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, even during the overnight hours. The rain will begin to taper off by midday Saturday with dry weather Sunday through most of Monday. rainfall amounts from this first system will range from 2 to 3 inches along the east side of the valley north of Kern County. Even though a rain shadow will try to develop along the west side of the valley, between 1 and 2 inches are possible. Kern County will be on the southern border of this event. Even so, latest projections are between .50 to 1 inch of rain will be measured.
Storm number 2 will begin to spread rain in from the west Monday night with precipitation lasting into Wednesday. This storm also has high potential for large amounts of rain over the high Sierra and another significant round of rain on the valley floor, especially along the east side.
At this point, Wednesday afternoon through Friday will likely be dry, but that’s not a given. The third storm will arrive next weekend, especially the second half of the weekend.
Frost: Lows tonight will range in the 30s. There is a small chance of a river bottom or other low spot dipping down below 32, but most locations will range between 31 and 36 overnight.
Beginning Friday morning, all locations will be well above 32 degrees with well above freezing conditions continuing for at least a week thereafter.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
Af |
Porterville
32 |
Ivanhoe
32 |
Woodlake
Af |
| Strathmore
32 |
McFarland
33 |
Ducor
Af |
Tea Pot Dome
32 |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
32 |
Famoso
Af |
Madera
Af |
| Belridge
32 |
Delano
Af |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
32 |
| Orange Cove
33 |
Lindcove
32 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
30 |
| Root Creek
32 |
Venice Hill
32 |
Rosedale
Af |
Jasmine
Af |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
af |
Plainview
32 |
Mettler
AF |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
Af |
Holland Creek
Af |
Tivy Valley
Af |
| Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
Af |
Next report: March 9 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.