January 8, 2024
Summary: Temperatures as of 5:00AM were in the upper 20s to lower 30s throughout the growing area. The coldest I could find was 26 at Rio Bravo. Skies are generally clear with the exception of some patchy low clouds along the base of the Tehachapi Mountains. Upper level high pressure has nudged inland over California and will dominate our weather through Tuesday night. clouds will begin increasing Wednesday ahead of the next cold weather system which will move rapidly down the valley Wednesday night and early Thursday. This event will be another cold one with snow in the foothills down to 2,000 feet or so. Models still portray this system as moisture starved. Quantitative precipitation estimates expect amounts to be no more than .10 and possibly just a few hundredths in Kern County. Another weak ridge of high pressure will move in from the west Thursday through Friday for dry weather. Over the weekend, a series of weak impulses will quickly move down the valley for a chance of light showers. Models show a stronger high moving in from the west Monday. A mild westerly flow will set up across the eastern Pacific and into California next Tuesday through Thursday. So far, it appears precipitation will stay to our north, however that’s a low confidence forecast.
Forecast: Mostly clear skies through Tuesday night with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds. Increasing cloudiness later Wednesday with light showers becoming likely Wednesday afternoon and night. partly cloudy Thursday. Mostly clear Thursday night through Friday. Increasing cloudiness Friday with a chance of sprinkles or light showers through Sunday. Partly cloudy Sunday night and Monday.
| Madera 52/29/54/35/52 | Reedley 52/28/55/35/53 | Dinuba 51/28/55/34/54 |
| Porterville 52/29/55/36/54 | Lindsay 52/27/54/34/54 | Delano 51/30/52/36/51 |
| Bakersfield 52/33/52/39/52 | Taft 51/34/52/38/51 | Arvin 53/31/55/37/54 |
| Lamont 51/33/55/37/54 | Pixley 52/29/54/34/52 | Tulare 51/27/55/34/53 |
| Woodlake 51/28/55/35/53 | Hanford 52/30/54/36/54 | Orosi 51/28/55/35/53 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Thursday Am showers possible 34/52 | Friday Am fog/mostly clear 29/51 | Saturday Slight chance of showers 34/53 | Sunday Slight chance of showers 37/55 | Monday Am fog/partly cloudy 34/58 |
Two Week Outlook: January 15 through January 21: This model shows a milder westerly flow becoming more dominant. This will result in somewhat above average temperatures. The Pacific storm track will be further south so there’s a better than even chance of above average precipitation during this period.
January: This model shows above average temperatures over California. It also reflects an El Nino type pattern with above average rainfall over all of California. The highest risk of above average rainfall will be over northern California. Temperatures should be somewhat above average.
January, February, March This model also has an El Nino signature to it. There are two areas of above average rain depicted. First is California and the interior west. The second is the south eastern US. Temperatures for the next three months should be above average.
Rain Discussion: Dry conditions will continue through Tuesday night. a moisture starved, cold system will race through late Wednesday into early Thursday for a chance of light showers. Rainfall amounts will be paltry and will generally run less than .10 north of Kern County with possibly a few hundredths in Kern County. Models show a series of weak impulses moving through this weekend for just a slight chance of light showers Friday night through Sunday. The first half of next week appears dry with possibly precipitation by late next week of a milder variety.
Frost Discussion: As of 5:00am, the coldest reading I could find was 26 degrees at Rio Bravo. A number of locations were from 27 to 31. Tonight will be similar with unprotected, river bottom type locations dipping down to 25 to 27. Most flatland locations will range between 28 and 31. Hillsides tonight will be above freezing. The inversion tonight will be stronger with temperatures at 34 feet being from 5 to 7 degrees warmer at most locations. Wednesday morning may be somewhat milder as we enjoy the benefits of higher level clouds. More than likely, reading will be in the low to mid 30s at most locations with isolated spots chilling into the upper 20s. another injection of cold air will follow Wednesday night’s frontal passage. Thursday will generally be in the low to mid 30s with isolated upper 20s possible. Friday morning could see readings down to 26 to 28 in river bottom style locations with 29 to 31 likely elsewhere. Saturday and Sunday, variable amounts of cloud cover will be apparent due to some weak waves of low pressure moving through with readings generally ranging in the 30s. The westerlies will finally break through next week for some moderation and possibly above freezing temperatures for the first part of next week. currently, there is still nothing on longer range models suggesting overly cold air on the horizon.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella 29 | Porterville 28 | Ivanhoe 28 | Woodlake 29 |
| Strathmore 29 | McFarland 28 | Ducor 30 | Tea pot dome 29 |
| Lindsay 27 | Exeter 27 | Famoso 30 | Madera 29 |
| Belridge 28 | Delano 30 | North Bakersfield 30 | Orosi 28 |
| Orange cove 29 | Lindcove 28 | Lindcove Hillside AF | Sanger river bottom 26 |
| Root creek 27 | Venice hill 29 | Rosedale 31 | Jasmine 30 |
| Arvin 32 | Lamont 33 | Plainview 29 | Mettler 31 |
| Edison 32 | Maricopa 31 | Holland creek 32 | Tivy Valley 29 |
| Kite Road South 32 | 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, .21, Parlier, .17, Arvin .28, Delano .23.
Soil temperatures: Stratford 55, Parlier 52, Arvin 52, Delano 50
Average Temperatures: 54/37, Record Temperatures: 72/22
Heating Degree Days Season. 850 -312 varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno .1.53, Monthly .42
Precipitation for Bakersfield: Season: 1.14, Monthly: .18
Average Temperature this Month 45.8 -0.3 taken at NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Parlier, 515 Arvin, 441 Belridge, 446 Shafter, 488 Stratford, 483 Delano 513. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise, 7:12. Sunset, 5:00 hours of daylight, 9:48
NA=Not available
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 53 / 34 / T /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 53 / 30 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 49 / 34 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 52 / 31 / T /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 54 / 29 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 50 / 34 / T /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 49 / 31 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 49 / 31 / 0.00 /
Rainfall:
MERCED T 3.57 87 8.17 200 4.09 11.80
MADERA 0.00 2.49 68 3.38 93 3.64 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 1.42 38 6.34 170 3.73 10.99
HANFORD T 1.81 64 4.52 159 2.85 8.13
BAKERSFIELD T 1.14 53 2.60 120 2.17 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 0.61 38 3.66 227 1.61 4.84
DEATH VALLEY NP 0.00 0.41 75 0.23 42 0.55 2.20
SALINAS 0.00 3.09 68 6.84 151 4.53 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.49 162 7.60 190 4.01 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 3.70 85 7.98 184 4.33 13.32