January 19, 2024
Summary: The first band of light showers is moving over the coast range just to the west of Merced. Radar is also showing some light showers down into San Luis Obispo County, but the bulk of this is rain evaporating before it hits the ground. The deeper moisture with this system is still off shore and will reach the coast late in the afternoon. Showers will spread in from the west this evening. This is the first of two weather systems. The second will move down the valley Sunday through Monday and is stronger and has greater potential for a more substantial precipitation event for central California. Since the origins of these storms is the lower latitudes, snow levels will be quite high. The freezing level taken above Oakland earlier today was above 10,000 feet. This will come down later Saturday and Saturday night as the colder sector of the storm begins to arrive, possibly down to 6,500 or so. Storm number two will arrive Sunday. This system is quite large so active weather will continue into Monday night, possibly even early Tuesday. A weak ridge of high pressure will begin to build in Tuesday and Tuesday night, deflecting a third but weaker system into northern California Wednesday. Upper level high pressure will build Thursday through next weekend for several days of dry weather. The GFS model out this afternoon, unlike yesterday, shows a better chance of precipitation the first week in February.
Forecast: A chance of light showers, mainly on the west side, towards sunset. Periods of showers tonight through Monday night. a chance of showers early Tuesday morning. partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night. a slight chance of showers Wednesday and Wednesday night, mainly north of Fresno. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Thursday through Friday with areas of night and morning fog.
Short Term:
| Madera 48/65/47/63 | Reedley 49/65/48/62 | Dinuba 47/64/47/63 |
| Porterville 50/66/49/63 | Lindsay 48/64/48/62 | Delano 51/66/49/63 |
| Bakersfield 51/66/50/63 | Taft 53/62/52/59 | Arvin 51/65/50/62 |
| Lamont 51/65/41/63 | Pixley 49/65/48/63 | Tulare 48/63/47/63 |
| Woodlake 49/64/48/62 | Hanford 50/64/49/61 | Orosi 48/63/48/62 |
Winds: winds will be generally at or less than 6 mph with near calm conditions through Friday. Winds Saturday night through Monday will be mainly out of the southeast at 5 to 12 mph with stronger gusts possible, mainly on Sunday.
Rain: As of the time of this writing, light showers were moving into the coast range just to the west of Merced County. The deeper moisture is still off shore and will spread over the valley tonight with periods of showers continuing through Monday night and possibly Tuesday. Our best chance of significant precipitation will be Sunday and Monday. dry weather will return Tuesday. A weak system will move into northern California Wednesday for a slight chance of showers from Fresno County north. Dry weather will prevail Thursday through next Sunday. The GFS model has flip flopped. Yesterday, it appeared the first few days of February would be dry. Now this model depicts precipitation moving into California about the second.
Frost: Expect above freezing temperatures for at least the next 7 days