December 12, 2023
Summary: Both temperatures and dew points are almost identical to what they were 24 hours ago. As of the time of this writing, temperatures were in the upper 50s with dew points in the mid to upper 30s. a repeat performance is on tap tonight with widespread frost before sunrise. Currently, a weak trough of low pressure is digging its way southward through Nevada and will form a cut off low over Arizona Wednesday and Thursday. A sharp ridge of high pressure just off shore will build inland over the next 72 hours. Temperatures, especially daytime temperatures, will respond accordingly with low to mid 60s Wednesday and mid to upper 60s Thursday. By Saturday, a large low pressure system will be approaching the California coast. The flow ahead of this system will be out of the southwest which will pump in mild air over the weekend with temperatures near the 70 degree mark both Friday and Saturday. The first of two Pacific storms will move inland Sunday night and Monday. It will weaken as it moves on shore. Even so, it will result in the chance of light showers, though the chance is better than even we will remain dry. However, models this afternoon are showing a greater possibility of showers than earlier model runs. A second low will move inland Wednesday and Thursday of next week. This storm shows more promise of a more significant event. Models encompassing the week between Christmas and New Year indicate there’s a good chance of rain that week with temperatures remaining above average.
Forecast: Mostly clear tonight through Wednesday with patchy night and morning fog. Partly cloudy Wednesday night and Thursday. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday night through Saturday. Increasing cloudiness Sunday. A chance of showers Sunday night through Monday night. Partly cloudy Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 30/64/32/67 | Reedley 30/65/32/65 | Dinuba 29/62/31/64 |
| Porterville 30/64/32/67 | Lindsay 29/64/31/66 | Delano 30/65/32/68 |
| Bakersfield 35/65/37/69 | Taft 40/61/43/65 | Arvin 32/65/34/68 |
| Lamont 31/64/33/68 | Pixley 31/65/33/67 | Tulare 29/63/31/66 |
| Woodlake 29/63/29/65 | Hanford 31/63/33/66 | Orosi 29/63/31/67 |
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 mph with periods of near calm conditions through Friday.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through at least Saturday night. Models have raised the bar a tad for our chance of rain Sunday and Monday. A large mid Pacific storm is projected to approach the California coast Sunday. It will weaken as it moves inland Sunday night and Monday. We’ll up the ante from a slight chance of rain to a chance of rain for this time frame. A second and potentially stronger low will move out of the Gulf of Alaska. Models show it just off shore Wednesday and Thursday. The low will have a difficult time moving eastward into California. Even so, we’ll put a chance of rain in the forecast for late Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
Frost: We will start off tonight roughly the same as last night with dew points in the mid to upper 30s. with generally clear skies overnight, another strong radiational cooling event will take place, leading to widespread upper 20s to lower 30s. coldest locations will drop down to 27 to 28 degrees with most flatland locations coming in at 29 to 32. Hillsides will again be above freezing. The inversion tonight will be strong with temperatures at 34 feet from 5 to 10 degrees warmer. Most locations will see a degree or two of warming Thursday morning. Lows Friday and Saturday will generally range in the 30s with coldest locations in the lower 30s. a fundamental pattern change will pump in milder air during the second half of the weekend with above freezing conditions Sunday. If models are correct, a fundamental pattern change will result in more cloud cover with a milder overall environment for above freezing conditions.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella 31 | Porterville 30 | Ivanhoe 29 | Woodlake 30 |
| Strathmore 30 | McFarland 30 | Ducor 31 | Tea pot dome 31 |
| Lindsay 29 | Exeter 29 | Famoso 32 | 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 28 | Venice hill 30 | Rosedale 32 | Jasmine 31 |
| Arvin 32 | Lamont 32 | Plainview 30 | Mettler 32 |
| Edison 31 | Maricopa 32 | Holland creek 32 | Tivy Valley 29 |
| Kite Road South 32 | Kite Road North 29 |
AF=Above Freezing