January 12, 2024
Summary: Upper level high pressure is located roughly 600 miles to the southwest of the southern California coast. The northern flank of the high is as far north as the Pacific Northwest and also extends inland over California. High clouds are overrunning the top of the high and will be visible from time to time, making it a partly cloudy day. The next and last in this parade of weak storms we’ve been dealing with will move through Saturday night. There’s a reasonably decent chance of light showers, however this model is relatively small with weak dynamics so any precipitation will be light and will add up to no more than a tenth or two mainly north of Kern County. The stream of cold air which has affected the valley this week will come to an end after this next weather system goes through Saturday night. The flow aloft will become west/northwest and will transport moderately warmer temperatures over California. The main challenge beginning Monday morning will be fog and low clouds, likely beginning to form in the middle of the valley. Theoretically, these clouds should increase each morning. as we all know, fog is the most difficult aspect of weather to forecast and will no doubt be the case this time around as well. This upcoming week will be dry, however the two week model is showing precipitation moving back to central California after this upcoming week.
Forecast: Areas of low clouds and fog, otherwise it will be partly cloudy through tonight. Increasing cloudiness Saturday leading to a chance of showers Saturday afternoon and night, mainly north of Kern County. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Sunday through Tuesday night. Mostly cloudy Wednesday through Wednesday night. Mostly clear Thursday through Friday with areas of night and morning clouds and low fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 53/31/53/36/59 | Reedley 54/32/51/38/58 | Dinuba 52/29/51/36/58 |
| Porterville 54/30/53/36/59 | Lindsay 54/30/51/37/58 | Delano 54/31/52/38/59 |
| Bakersfield 54/35/55/38/58 | Taft 51/39/53/44/57 | Arvin 55/33/53/39/59 |
| Lamont 54/32/54/38/59 | Pixley 53/32/53/37/59 | Tulare 52/30/53/35/57 |
| Woodlake 53/31/51/38/58 | Hanford 54/31/53/38/58 | Orosi 54/30/52/37/58 |
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 mph with periods of near calm conditions through Friday. Winds Friday night and Saturday will be variable to 15 mph. light to near calm winds will return Sunday.
Rain: Our next chance of measurable rain will arrive Saturday afternoon, continuing Saturday night, mainly north of Kern County. This is the last in the series of storms that have affected central California for the last week and a half. This system is fairly weak, so no more than a tenth or two is expected, mainly north of Kern County with perhaps a few hundredths in the valley portion of Kern County. Dry weather will return Sunday and should last through the upcoming week. the two week model favors above average precipitation again, beginning week after next.
Frost: Widespread upper 20s and lower 30s is what we’re seeing before sunrise. The coldest I could find was 26 at Ducor with most locations from 28 to 31. There will be periods of high clouds tonight overrunning a dome of high pressure over California. However, how widespread and dense these clouds are will determine tomorrow’s lows. Coldest locations tonight should bottom out between 28 and 29 degrees with most flatland locations ranging from 29 to 32. Hillsides will be above freezing. The inversion will be decent tonight with temperatures at 34 feet from 5 to 8 degrees warmer. Lows Sunday morning should be above freezing at most locations as a west northwest flow develops. Increasing amounts of mid and high level clouds will become evident. The warmer air aloft will be reflected on warmer surface temperatures beginning Sunday with readings pushing 60. Beginning Monday, all locations will be above freezing all of next week.
| 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
Mid afternoon dew points: Low to mid 30s. Kern: Upper 20s to the lower 30s.
ET for the past seven days: Stratford, .35, Parlier, .30, Arvin .33, Delano .34.
Soil temperatures: Stratford 54, Parlier 49, Arvin 51, Delano 47
Average Temperatures: 55/37, Record Temperatures: 67/20
Heating Degree Days Season. 935 -303 varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno .1.63, Monthly .74
Precipitation for Bakersfield: Season: 1.20, Monthly: .24
Average Temperature this Month 45.0 -1.0 taken at NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Parlier, 572 Arvin, 500 Belridge, 497 Shafter, 546 Stratford, 541 Delano 572. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise, 7:11. Sunset, 5:04 hours of daylight, 9:51
NA=Not available
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1600 / 54 / 38 / 0.08 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1600 / 53 / 37 / 0.11 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1600 / 51 / 38 / 0.21 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1600 / 53 / 35 / 0.07 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1600 / 55 / 35 / 0.05 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1600 / 52 / 37 / 0.06 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1600 / 52 / 36 / 0.06 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1600 / 54 / 36 / 0.15 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 53 / 37 / 0.00 /
Rainfall:
STOCKTON 0.00 4.25 78 12.75 234 5.45 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 4.47 94 11.03 232 4.76 12.27
MERCED T 3.65 83 10.82 245 4.42 11.80
MADERA 0.01 2.60 66 4.10 104 3.93 10.79
FRESNO 0.01 1.63 40 8.25 205 4.03 10.99
HANFORD T 1.88 61 6.06 196 3.09 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.06 1.20 52 3.53 152 2.33 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 0.61 34 8.02 451 1.78 4.84
DEATH VALLEY NP T 0.41 69 0.32 54 0.59 2.20
SALINAS 0.00 3.32 68 7.72 158 4.89 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.01 6.50 148 11.04 251 4.40 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.01 3.73 79 11.60 246 4.71 13.32