December 30, 2023
Summary: interestingly enough, heaviest precipitation amounts were in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Rainfall amounts as of midday were Bakersfield .17, Mettler .23, buttonwillow and Delano were each .17, Porterville .25, Visalia .25, Exeter .29, Hanford .27, Lemoore .61, Five Points .71, Fresno .17, Fresno .27, Madera .44, and Merced .55.
Doppler radar is indicating almost all of the precipitation has now moved into the Sierra Nevada and the Kern County mountains. Partial clearing is taking place along the west side of the valley. I’m going to leave at least a minimal chance of showers in the forecast for the remainder of the day. As daytime heating makes itself known, it may be enough to set off some showers or even an isolated thunderstorm. The next weather is following on the heels of the current system. The bulk of this system will move through southern California and northern Baja, leaving central California dry. Now that the valley floor has received another injection of rainfall, areas of ground fog will no doubt form late tonight and Sunday morning. now we turn our attention to the next system which will arrive at mid week. the chance of rain will increase by sunrise Wednesday, becoming likely at times later Wednesday through Wednesday night. A progressive ridge of upper level high pressure will take over Friday for dry weather with no doubt another round of fog and low clouds. The latest GFS model is indicating a storm will move out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California Saturday through Sunday of next week.
Forecast: partly to mostly cloudy tonight with areas of ground fog developing before sunrise. Partly to mostly cloudy Sunday and Sunday night with areas of morning fog. Mostly clelar to occasionally partly cloudy Monday afternoon through Tuesday. Increasing cloudiness Tuesday night with a chance of rain by sunrise. Showers likely at times Wednesday through Wednesday evening. Partly to mostly cloudy Thursday and Thursday night with areas of morning fog. Mostly clear Friday after areas of fog burn off. A chance of rain late Friday night and Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 37/58/36/60 | Reedley 40/59/39/60 | Dinuba 38/58/36/59 |
| Portervil;3 41/59/38/60 | Lindsay 39/58/37/61 | Delano 43/59/41/58 |
| Bakersfield 44/58/42/58 | Taft 46/55/45/56 | Arvin 42/59/40/61 |
| Lamont 44/59/41/60 | Pixley 38/58/36/60 | Tulare 37/57/35/59 |
| Woodlake 40/59/36/60 | Hanford 41/59/40/61 | Orosi 39/58/36/60 |
Winds: Winds this morning will be light and generally out of the southeast. Winds tonight will be generally out of the southeast at 10 to 20 mph at times. Winds Saturday will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 mph, diminishing by late afternoon. Winds Saturday night through Thursday will be variable to 10 mph with periods of near calm conditions Saturday
Rain The bulk of the precipitation has ended on the valley floor, however daytime heating this afternoon may be enough to trigger some showers and an isolated thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. Expect dry weather Sunday through Tuesday the next chance of rain will arrive Tuesday night with rain becoming likely Wednesday. This system is not as strong as the current storm. Even so, some locations could pick up a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Dry weather will prevail late Wednesday night through Friday night. it’s time to introduce a chance of rain for Saturday as the latest GFS model is indicating a low will move out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California.
Frost: All locations will be above 32 degrees tonight through Monday morning. there is a chance coldest locations Tuesday could dip into the low 30s in unprotected river bottom type areas. Above freezing conditions will prevail Wednesday and Thursday due to cloud cover. There is a chance of low to mid 30s Friday, depending on fog and cloud cover. Models conflict somewhat for the pattern on Saturday and Sunday, but it appears a storm in the Gulf of Alaska could begin to affect us, eliminating the possibility of subfreezing weather. Longer range models from the eighth through the 10th of January are showing, for the second day in a row, a northwest flow is dominant during this period, maintaining safe conditions. Two model runs in a row is not a trend, but at least it’s pointing in the right direction.