April 8, 2024
Summary The trough of low pressure which was responsible for the cool, unsettled pattern over the weekend has moved into the Great Basin and Desert Southwest. This is allowing a ridge of upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific Ocean to begin to build into California. The freezing level taken over Vandenburg was still fairly low at 5,600 feet. That will change in a hurry over the next 72 hours as the high shifts inland. By Wednesday, the center of the high will be just off the central coast with a bubble of warm subsiding air over California. Rapid warming will take place. It looks like Friday will be the warmest day of the week as readings jump into the mid to upper 80s. There is a small chance that the very warmest locations may hit the 90 degree mark for the first time this season. The high will buckle over the weekend, allowing a northeast Pacific storm to drop into California. This does not appear to be a significant event. However, there will be a small chance of light showers Saturday through Monday along with much cooler temperatures over the weekend. A weaker high will fill in behind the low for a return to dry weather next week.
Forecast mostly clear skies through Friday. Variable cloudiness Saturday through Monday with a small chance of showers.
Short Term:
Madera 70/41/78/46/84 | Reedley 71/42/78/47/85 | Dinuba 69/41/76/46/83 |
Porterville 70/40/78/45/84 | Lindsay 70/41/78/46/84 | Delano 72/42/78/47/85 |
Bakersfield 69/49/78/52/85 | Taft 65/48/74/55/79 | Arvin 70/43/78/48/85 |
Lamont 71/43/78/48/86 | Pixley 69/43/77/48/84 | Tulare 68/40/77/45/83 |
Woodlake 69/41/77/45/83 | Hanford 71/42/78/46/84 | Orosi 69/40/77/46/83 |
Seven Day Forecast
Thursday Mostly clear 51/86 | Friday Mostly clear 53/88 | Saturday Slight chance of showers 47/81 | Sunday Slight chance of showers 42/68 | Monday Slight chance of showers 42/69 |
Two Week Forecast: April 15 through April 21: This model is indicating a fairly dominant ridge of high pressure will be over California. The chance of rain appears to be very low during this period while temperatures will be above average.
Thirty Day Report: This model gives equal chances of above and below average temperatures for the month of April. The chance of precipitation is slightly above average for the month.
Ninety Day Report: As we enter the dry season, this model predicts precipitation will be above or below average. There is no real trend to grab onto, so temperatures are expected to be near seasonal average.
Winds: Winds through Thursday will be variable and no more than 10 mph. Periods of near calm conditions can be expected, mainly during the night and morning hours.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through Friday. A weak area of low pressure will drop southeastward from the Gulf of Alaska and into California beginning Saturday. On paper, this is a moisture starved system. Even so, I want to add a small chance of showers to the forecast for Saturday through Monday. This system will move into the Great Basin by Tuesday of next week, returning the valley to a dry weather pattern.
Mid afternoon dew points: Low to mid 40s. Kern: Low to mid 40s.
ET for the past seven days: Stratford, .90, Parlier, .87, Arvin .97, Delano 98.
Soil temperatures: Stratford 56, Parlier 61, Arvin NA, Delano 63
Average Temperatures: 71/46, Record Temperatures: 92/36
Heating Degree Days Season. 1748 -532 varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno 8.62, Monthly .34
Precipitation for Bakersfield: Season: 6.18, Monthly: .23
Average Temperature this Month 57.3 -1.9 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, 6:35. Sunset, 7:27, hours of daylight, 12:49
NA=Not available
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 64 / 41 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 64 / 39 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 64 / 43 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 67 / 42 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 67 / 40 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 64 / 39 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 65 / 40 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 65 / 38 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1656 / 61 / 44 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr 2024 % l.y. % ave Yearly ave
STOCKTON 0.00 12.89 108 22.87 192 11.94 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 15.78 147 19.76 184 10.73 12.27
MERCED 0.00 13.51 131 20.08 195 10.30 11.80
MADERA 0.00 8.64 91 10.83 114 9.51 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 8.62 90 17.48 183 9.55 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 7.36 103 14.48 203 7.15 8.13
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 6.18 110 9.74 174 5.61 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 4.44 112 13.66 343 3.98 4.84
DEATH VALLEY NP 0.00 2.93 178 1.06 64 1.65 2.20
SALINAS 0.00 13.50 118 13.71 120 11.42 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 16.69 148 20.51 182 11.30 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 15.15 124 23.18 190 12.21 13.32