March 30, 2019
From this point until frost season begins again, we will be out of the office on Sundays unless there is active weather. We will, however, be available by phone should you need us.
John and Trudy
Summary: Most locations on the valley floor are running only 1 or 2 degrees ahead of yesterday at this time. Once you get up to the 4,000 to 5,000 foot elevations, most locations are from 5 to 9 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago. The freezing level is finally rising above northern California as the sounding above Oakland this morning was at 8,800 feet while much warmer air had moved in aloft over southern California. The latest sounding over Vandenberg indicated a freezing level of 11,600 feet. Temperatures will near the 70 degree mark before the day is over then jump into the mid 70s Sunday and the upper 70s to the lower 80s Monday as a weak ridge moves overhead.
A weak trough of low pressure will move through late Monday night and Tuesday. There is a chance of light showers from mainly Fresno County northward during this time frame with a very low chance of measurable rain in the south valley. Interestingly enough, the latest models for later next week are indicating a moist westerly flow beginning Wednesday and continuing through Friday with a chance of light showers from mainly Fresno County northward.
By Saturday, a frontal system will push through for what appears to be the best chance of showers as far south as the Kern County mountains. That front may be the last one we’ll see for a while as the third model run in a row is indicating a more persistent ridge of high pressure building over and off the west coast and driving the storm track northward into the Pacific Northwest. Even the latest two week model is indicating below average precipitation over the southern two-third of California with above average temperatures.
Forecast: Clear skies tonight. Mostly clear skies Sunday through Monday. Increasing clouds later Monday night with a small chance of light showers from mainly Fresno County north after midnight. A chance of light showers Tuesday morning from mainly Fresno County north. Partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon and night. variable cloudiness Wednesday through Friday with a small chance of light showers from mainly Fresno County north. A greater risk of showers later Friday night and Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 42/75/52/78 | Reedley 43/76/49/79 | Dinuba 42/75/49/78 | |
| Porterville 43/76/50/80 | Lindsay 41/76/51/79 | Delano 43/77/51/80 | |
| Bakersfield 47/77/53/81 | Taft 49/76/52/80 | Arvin 45/78/51/81 | |
| Lamont 44/77/51/81 | Pixley 43/76/50/79 | Tulare 42/75/49/78 | |
| Woodlake 42/75/49/78 | Hanford 43/76/49/79 | Orosi 42/75/48/78 | |
Winds: Winds afternoons and evenings will be generally at or less than 12 MPH through Tuesday. During the night and morning hours, winds will be generally less than 12 MPH with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: There will be a small chance of light showers from mainly Fresno County north late Monday night and Tuesday morning. Precipitation amounts over Fresno and Madera Counties should be no more than .10 with generally dry conditions in the south valley.
Some models have changed a bit on the pattern for Wednesday through Friday. They indicate a moist, west to east flow underneath a low well off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Embedded within this flow are weak disturbances which could, theoretically, result in light showers at times from mainly Fresno County north.
A frontal system will move through the valley Friday night and Saturday, possibly pushing showers all the way down the valley Saturday through Saturday night with dry weather beginning Sunday. If models are correct, dry weather will continue for much the following week.
Next report: Monday morning/April 1