January 11, 2024
Summary: Central California remains on the eastern flank of upper level high pressure off the central California coast. That puts us under a northwesterly flow aloft, maintaining slightly below average temperatures. The high will begin to give way Saturday to a weak weather system currently off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Light showers may reach Merced County by about noon with light showers spreading southward during the late afternoon and evening hours. Most, if not all, of the active weather will be over by about sunrise Sunday. A new high will begin building along the west coast Sunday through Tuesday. This will evolve into a warm air inversion which will set the stage for an increase in night and morning low clouds and fog. A weak wave of low pressure will move through central California Tuesday night and Wednesday. For now, it appears it will be too anemic to threaten precipitation. The high will again firm up Thursday and on through Sunday of next week. models continue to point towards a mild, active pattern about a week from Monday, which we’ll study in the coming days.
Forecast: Partly cloudy tonight with areas of fog developing after midnight. Increasing cloudiness Saturday morning. a chance of light showers as far south as Merced County by early to late afternoon. Showers likely Saturday night, mainly north of Kern County. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy through Tuesday night with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds. Variable cloudiness Wednesday and Wednesday night with patchy morning fog. Mostly clear Thursday through Friday with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds.
Short Term:
| Madera 32/53/38/59 | Reedley 32/54/38/60 | Dinuba 31/52/38//59 |
| Porterville 30/54/38/58 | Lindsay 30/54/38/59 | Delano 32/54/39/58 |
| Bakersfield 34/55/39/59 | Taft 38/53/44/58 | Arvin 31/53/39/59 |
| Lamont 33/54/39/59 | Pixley 31/53/38/59 | Tulare 30/52/37/58 |
| Woodlake 30/53/38/58 | Hanford 31/52/39/59 | Orosi 30/53/37/58 |
Winds: Winds through early this evening will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 mph at times, diminishing later this evening. Winds late this evening through Saturday will be generally at or less than 6 mph with periods of near calm conditions. From Saturday night through Sunday winds will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 mph with periods of lighter winds.
Rain: The chance of light showers will begin to increase by midafternoon Saturday then will spread rapidly southward during the mid to late afternoon hours, mainly north of Kern County. The chance of light showers will continue Saturday night with all the action ending by early Sunday morning. rainfall amounts will be light, ranging from perhaps a few hundredths in Kern County to as much as a quarter of an inch in Merced County. Most locations north of Kern County should pick up at least a tenth of two. Dry weather will return Sunday and should hold for all of next week. the ten day and two week models show a milder storm affecting the valley about a week from Monday.
Frost: Variable amounts of high level clouds will continue to stream over the valley tonight, especially north of Kern County. It appears these clouds should be consistent enough for somewhat milder temperatures tonight, especially from northern Tulare County and on north. The coldest locations tonight will chill down to 28 to 29. Most locations will range between 30 and 35 with hillsides above freezing. The inversion will be decent tonight with temperatures at 34 feet running 5 to 8 degrees warmer at most locations. From Sunday through Wednesday, lows at most locations should run in the 30s with only the coldest locations dropping into the lower 30s. a mild west/northwest flow will continue for much of the week with above freezing conditions prevailing. The outlook for next week also points to a mild pattern so safe conditions will prevail after tonight.
| Terra Bella 30 | Porterville 30 | Ivanhoe 29 | Woodlake 30 |
| Strathmore 29 | McFarland 30 | Ducor 29 | Tea Pot Dome 30 |
| Lindsay 29 | Exeter 28 | Famoso 31 | Madera 31 |
| Belridge 29 | Delano 30 | North Bakersfield 32 | 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 31 | Lamont 31 | Plainview 29 | Mettler 30 |
| Edison 32 | Maricopa 31 | Holland creek 32 | Tivy Valley 29 |
| Kite Road South 32 | Kite Road North 29 |
AF=Above Freezing