December 11, 2023
Summary: Variable cloudiness overnight kept temperatures generally in the 30s. these clouds will move east of the region by sometime this afternoon. Mostly clear skies will return tonight through Friday. A trough of low pressure will develop over the Great Basin by Tuesday while a ridge of upper level high pressure builds along the coast. This will create an off shore flow which will begin a warming trend Wednesday as the off shore high builds inland Wednesday through Friday. Temperatures will warm considerably. Readings as early as Friday could push the 70 degree mark, which is near record territory. With mostly clear skies over the next couple of nights, below freezing conditions will prevail. This is discussed in the frost summary below. Models continue to show the high breaking down by Sunday or Monday of next week. A large low will approach the northern California coast Sunday and Monday. This low will weaken as it moves inland for a minimal chance of light showers Sunday and Monday. However, it may clear the way for a second, stronger storm for a better chance of rain Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Forecast: Variable cloudiness this morning, clearing this afternoon. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy tonight through Friday with areas of night and morning low clouds and fog. Partly cloudy Friday night through Saturday night with patchy night and morning fog. Increasing cloudiness Sunday. A slight chance of showers Sunday night and Monday.
Temperatures
| Madera 61/29/62/30/64 | Reedley 62/30/63/31/64 | Dinuba 61/29/62/30/63 |
| Porterville 61//29/62/30/64 | Lindsay 61/28/62/29/63 | Delano 62/30/63/31/64 |
| Bakersfield 63/35/62/35/65 | Taft 59/39/60/42/64 | Arvin 63/30/62/31/65 |
| Lamont 62/31/63/32/65 | Pixley 61/30/62/31/64 | Tulare 61/28/62/29/62 |
| Woodlake 61/29/62/30/63 | Hanford 62/31/63/32/65 | Orosi 61/28/62/29/63 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Thursday AM fog/PM sun 33/64 | Friday AM fog/PM sun 34/68 | Saturday Partly cloudy 35/69 | Sunday Pm rain possible 38/70 | Monday Slight chance of showers 42/70 |
Two Week Outlook: December 18 through December24 This model shows the dome of high pressure protecting California finally breaking down. Temperatures, however, will remain somewhat below average. The risk of rain is considerably higher on this model.
December: This model continues to favor above average temperatures during the month of December. There’s no trend either way for rainfall, so average amounts of precipitation is our forecast.
December, January, February : If this model has any credence, this winter will experience above average temperatures. This model also favors above average rainfall for the next 90 days.
Wind Discussion: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 mph with periods of near calm conditions through Thursday.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for at least the next 10 days.
Frost Discussion: The lowest overnight temperature I could find as of 5:00 am was 30 degrees at Sanger. The deck of high clouds currently overhead will move off to the east later today, clearing the way for mostly clear skies tonight and leading to another night of subfreezing temperatures. Coldest temperatures tonight will chill down to 27 to 28 degrees in low, unprotected regions. Most flat terrain locations will range between 29 and 31. Hillsides will remain above freezing. Tonight’s inversion will be fairly strong with temperatures at 34 feet ranging generally 5 to 8 degrees warmer at most locations. Expect similar conditions Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. A fairly strong high pressure system will clamp down on the valley Thursday through Saturday, pushing high temperatures near the 70 degree mark. This will drag low temperatures up mostly into the 30s. models show the high finally breaking down Sunday and Monday of next week, allowing a Pacific storm to approach the coast with increasing cloudiness and a southwesterly flow aloft. Most if not all locations will be above freezing Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella 30 | Porterville 29 | Ivanhoe 28 | Woodlake 30 |
| Strathmore 29 | McFarland 30 | Ducor 31 | Tea pot dome 29 |
| Lindsay 28 | Exeter 28 | Famoso 30 | Madera 29 |
| Belridge 29 | Delano 30 | North Bakersfield 30 | Orosi 28 |
| Orange cove 29 | Lindcove 28 | Lindcove Hillside af | Sanger river bottom 27 |
| Root creek 28 | Venice hill 29 | Rosedale 30 | Jasmine 30 |
| Arvin 30 | Lamont 31 | Plainview 29 | Mettler 32 |
| Edison 31 | Maricopa 32 | Holland creek 31 | Tivy Valley 29 |
| Kite Road South 31 | Kite Road North 29 |
AF=Above Freezing
Mid afternoon dew points: Low to mid 30s. Kern: Upper 20s to the lower 30s.
ET for the past seven days: Stratford, .47, Parlier, .40, Arvin .44, Delano .39.
Soil temperatures: Stratford 56, Parlier 54, Arvin 55, Delano 52
Average Temperatures: 56/37, Record Temperatures: 69/25
Heating Degree Days Season. 468 -152 widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno .21, Monthly .00
Precipitation for Bakersfield: Season: .30, Monthly: .00
Average Temperature this Month 50.4 +3.4 taken at NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Parlier, 322 Arvin, 246 Belridge, 262 Shafter, 280 Stratford, 284 Delano 295. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise, 7:02. Sunset, 4:43 hours of daylight, 9:42
NA=Not available
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 62 / 35 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 62 / 34 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 61 / 41 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 63 / 35 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 62 / 34 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 61 / 42 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 61 / 37 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 60 / 37 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr seas. % L.Y % S.Ave. 365
STOCKTON 0.00 0.74 26 4.23 151 2.81 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 0.98 43 4.25 188 2.26 12.27
MERCED 0.00 1.01 46 3.57 163 2.19 11.80
MADERA 0.00 0.43 23 1.98 105 1.88 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 0.21 11 3.21 169 1.90 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 0.13 9 2.27 160 1.42 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 0.32 30 0.90 83 1.08 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 0.25 31 1.26 156 0.81 4.84
DEATH VALLEY NP 0.00 0.01 3 0.02 7 0.29 2.20
SALINAS 0.00 0.70 28 3.23 129 2.51 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 1.76 90 4.02 206 1.95 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 0.35 16 2.73 125 2.19 13.32
Next report: December 11/pm
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.