March 13, 2024
Summary high pressure just off the Pacific coast will build northeastward into the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia while a low center drops from the northern Rockies into the Desert Southwest. This will generate a strong southeast flow over central California, setting up a classic mono wind configuration. Typically, when this occurs, a strong northeast flow moves down the west facing slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Places like Yosemite Valley and the San Joaquin Valley River Canyon are particularly vulnerable. During strong events, winds can reach hurricane force, downing trees and power lines. These winds never reach the central valley floor, however this configuration does generate some gusty winds, generally from Merced County north and along the west side, generally along the Interstate 5 corridor. The off shore high will only build marginally inland as the low cuts off over the Colorado River Valley and remains further stationary over the weekend. The downslope wind effect of the current pattern will issue in a warming trend beginning Thursday. Readings will rise into the low to mid 70s over the weekend with some of the warmest locations reaching 80 by Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. High pressure will continue the dry pattern not only through this week but through at least a week from Friday. A trough of low pressure is projected to move through the western states for the possibility of rain beginning around the 23
Forecast Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy through Saturday. Mostly clear with warm afternoon Sunday through Wednesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 65/38/67/40/70 | Reedley 65/40/68/39/71 | Dinuba 63/38/67/38/71 |
| Porterville 66/39/68/41/71 | Lindsay 65/38/68/39/70 | Delano 65/41/68/42/71 |
| Bakersfield 64/42/67/43/72 | Taft 58/42/68/45/63 | Arvin 65/45/69/45/72 |
| Lamont 66/46/69/46/73 | Pixley 64/40/67/40/70 | Tulare 63/38/68/39/71 |
| Woodlake 64/38/67/38/69 | Hanford 65/40/69/42/72 | Orosi 64/39/68/39/71 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Saturday Mostly clear 43/71 | Sunday Mostly clear 44/72 | Monday Mostly clear 46/74 | Tuesday Mostly clear 46/79 | Wednesday Mostly clear 48/76 |
Two Week Forecast: March 20 through March 26: The configuration on this model gives roughly a 60% chance of above average precipitation during the period. Temperatures will be near to marginally above average.
Thirty Day Report: If this model has much credence, rainfall will remain above average, especially in northern and central California, stretching into the interior west. Temperatures however, look to be marginally below average.
Ninety Day Report: This model indicates near to marginally above average rainfall over the next three months. Equal chances are given for temperatures being above or below average.
Winds: Winds will be mainly out of the northwest at around 8 to 15 mph along the Interstate 5 corridor where winds will be out of the north at 15 to 30 mph with possible stronger gusts through Thursday evening. Late Thursday night through Saturday, winds will be generally at or less than 8 mph with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Dry conditions will prevail through at least Friday of next week. my confidence level decreases by the time we reach next weekend as models vary. For now we’ll go with a dry forecast through at least Friday of next week.
Mid afternoon dew points: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s
ET for the past seven days: Stratford, .81, Parlier, .79, Arvin .73, Delano .79.
Soil temperatures: Stratford 56, Parlier 58, Arvin NA, Delano 58
Average Temperatures: 67/44, Record Temperatures: 85/31
Heating Degree Days Season. 1589 -516 varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno 7.04, Monthly .88
Precipitation for Bakersfield: Season: 5.11, Monthly: .28
Average Temperature this Month 55.2 -0.0 taken at NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Parlier, 793 Arvin, 692 Belridge, 690 Shafter, 741 Stratford, 784 Delano 783. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise, 6:10. Sunset, 6:06, hours of daylight, 11:53
NA=Not available
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 64 / 47 / 0.10 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 67 / 47 / 0.08 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 66 / 50 / 0.04 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 69 / 48 / 0.02 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 70 / 42 / 0.02 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 67 / 49 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 67 / 47 / T /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 66 / 39 / T /
Rainfall: 24hr 2024 % l.y. % ave Yearly ave
STOCKTON 0.08 10.94 104 20.77 198 10.49 13.45
MODESTO 0.10 13.69 146 17.03 182 9.38 12.27
MERCED 0.13 11.79 132 17.16 192 8.92 11.80
MADERA 0.08 7.46 92 9.25 114 8.11 10.79
FRESNO 0.04 7.04 87 15.89 196 8.09 10.99
HANFORD 0.02 6.35 105 12.07 200 6.04 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 5.11 108 7.84 165 4.75 6.36
BISHOP T 4.36 121 12.40 343 3.61 4.84
DEATH VALLEY NP 0.00 2.38 158 0.96 64 1.51 2.20
SALINAS 0.01 10.61 107 12.42 125 9.92 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.01 14.88 153 17.17 177 9.71 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 12.96 125 19.33 186 10.40 13.32