January 18, 2024
Summary: A great deal of cloud cover blankets the valley at midday. The lower level clouds are left over from this morning’s ground fog while clouds at a higher level are streaming in from the eastern Pacific. These clouds are well in advance of a series of disturbances which will move over central California late Friday night, continuing through Monday night. the current dome of high pressure above California will shift eastward, allowing a moist, mild flow of air to move into California with moist air from time to time. This will give us an excellent chance to make up rainfall deficits. As of today, Fresno is only at 39% of average and Bakersfield at 49% of average. The westerly flow is almost perpendicular to the Sierra Nevada meaning the precipitation will be aided by lift, which should give us some good rainfall totals with heavy snow over the higher elevations. The strongest of these storms will move through Monday and Monday night. after Wednesday of next week, a blocking ridge will take center stage, driving the storm track into the Pacific N
Forecast: Mostly cloudy through Friday with patchy fog late tonight and Friday morning. A chance of showers after sunset Friday, mainly from Fresno County north. Periods of showers Friday night through Monday night. Partly cloudy with areas of fog Tuesday morning. a slight chance of showers Wednesday, mainly from Fresno County north. Partly cloudy Wednesday night and Thursday after periods of low clouds and fog.
Short Term:
Madera 43/66/48/65 | Reedley 44/67/49/64 | Dinuba 43/65/49/64 |
Porterville 45/67/48/65 | Lindsay 43/66/47/64 | Delano 46/67/49/66 |
Bakersfield 48/67/50/65 | Taft 51/65/52/64 | Arvin 48/67/50/65 |
Lamont 46/67/50/65 | Pixley 44/66/48/64 | Tulare 44/66/48/65 |
Woodlake 45/66/47/65 | Hanford 46/66/49/65 | Orosi 44/64/48/64 |
Winds: winds will be generally at or less than 6 mph with near calm conditions through Friday. Winds Friday night through Sunday will be mainly out of the southeast at 5 to 12 mph with stronger gusts possible, mainly on Sunday.
Rain: We should get most of Friday in before the chance of rain increases by Friday evening. It’s possible precipitation could begin from Fresno County north by sunset Friday. The deeper we move through Friday night, the greater the possibility of showers will become. Expect periods of showers Saturday through Sunday night. Precipitation should be heaviest Monday through Monday night with drier weather returning Tuesday and Tuesday night. A weaker system will move through on Wednesday of next week but it appears to be pretty anemic so there’s just a minimal chance of showers. Models are still trending towards a dry pattern beginning next Thursday and lasting for several days. The latest two week model for the 25 through the 31 continues to point towards a drier weather pattern.
Frost: Expect above freezing temperatures for at least the next 7 days