January 17, 2024
Summary: Variable cloudiness is prevalent over the valley at midday. Just about all the shower activity there was this morning is now south and east of the region. Soundings are indicating pressures are rising over California, maintaining dry weather through Friday. It appears we have one more bout of active weather which will take place this weekend. Models indicate the jet stream will flank underneath a low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska, creating a strong north/northwest flow into California from Friday night through Monday night. Embedded within this flow will be areas of low pressure which will result in periods of rain over a 72 hour period beginning Friday night and lasting into Monday evening. Quantitative precipitation estimates indicate one to two inches of rain is possible during this period from Fresno County north with lesser amounts in the south valley. Even Bakersfield, however, could pick up a good half inch. By Tuesday, a ridge of upper level high pressure will begin to deflect the storm track back up into the Pacific northwest and northwest California. Models show an even stronger ridge moving into the north by Thursday and Friday of next week. to summarize, it appears we will have active weather from Friday night into Monday with an excellent chance of significant precipitation. After that, a prolonged period of dry weather will begin Tuesday and last through next weekend. Even the new two week outlook shows a dry period with above average temperatures ending the month of January.
Forecast: mostly to partly cloudy through Friday with areas of night and morning valley fog. A chance of rain Friday night. rain becoming likely Saturday through Monday at times. A chance of rain Monday night. becoming partly to mostly cloudy Tuesday through Wednesday with areas of valley fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 41/63/44/65 | Reedley 42/64/43/67 | Dinuba 41/63/43/65 |
| Porterville 43/64/44/67 | Lindsay 40/63/43/67 | Delano 43/65/45/68 |
| Bakersfield 46/65/47/68 | Taft 49/62/50/65 | Arvin 42/65/43/68 |
| Lamont 42/64/43/67 | Pixley 42/64/44/67 | Tulare 40/63/44/66 |
| Woodlake 41/63/43/66 | Hanford 41/64/45/66 | Orosi 40/63/43/66 |
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 mph and variable in nature through Saturday.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through Friday. The chance of measurable rain will begin to increase by sunset Friday with the likelihood of rain Saturday through Monday evening. Dry weather will return by Tuesday and it should hold from then through the weekend.
Frost: Expect above freezing temperatures for at least the next 7 days