Summary: As of 1:00pm skies were mostly clear over much of the valley. However, ground fog, which developed early this morning, lifted into a low overcast in eastern Kings County and northcentral Tulare County. Both Visalia and Hanford are reporting an overcast based at just 200 feet. The temperature at Visalia was 46 and 47 at Hanford while all other locations in Madera, Fresno, and Kern Counties had warmed into the mid to upper 50s with plenty of hazy sunshine.
Tonight through Friday night, our weather will be governed by the amount of fog and low overcast that forms and where it clears in the afternoons. With upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific and a north/northeast flow aloft, occasional high clouds will also be evident. The main storm track will continue to move over the top of the high and into the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
A weak trough of low pressure will move through northern and central California Saturday morning with increasing amounts of mid and high level clouds, but more and more it appears that any precipitation will be well to our north.
On Sunday and Monday of next week, models are showing a strong surface high over the Great Basin, generating a rather robust off shore flow. It’s possible enough mixing could occur to lower dew points, though that’s rather speculative at this point.
Medium range models indicate dry weather will continue through at least the 9th or 10th with the storm track remaining essentially west to east, mainly into British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
Forecast: Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy through Friday night. fairly widespread areas of fog and low clouds will redevelop each night with clearing in most areas during the afternoons. Variable cloudiness Saturday and Saturday night. partly cloudy Sunday through Tuesday with areas of night and morning fog and low clouds.
Short Term:
| Madera 33/56/34/56 | Reedley 33/57/34/57 | Dinuba 31/56/32/57 | |
| Porterville 33/58/34/59 | Lindsay 31/58/33/57 | Delano 34/59/35/59 | |
| Bakersfield 40/61/41/59 | Taft 40/59/41/58 | Arvin 35/60/36/59 | |
| Lamont 36/59/37/58 | Pixley 33/58/34/58 | Tulare 32/57/34/57 | |
| Woodlake 32/58/34/57 | Hanford 34/58/35/57 | Orosi 32/59/33/57 | |
Winds: Winds will be generally at or less than 6 MPH with extended periods of near calm conditions through Friday.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next week to possibly 10 days.
Frost Discussion: Most locations will be at or slightly above freezing tonight. dew points are again in the low to mid 40s. As of 1:00pm, portions of Tulare and Kings Counties were still under a low overcast based at about 200 feet. That is a pretty good indication of a warm air inversion developing above the valley floor. The fact that some areas are slow to burn off today leads me to believe tomorrow morning will see widespread fog and low clouds. It’s possible that, if fog forms early enough, temperatures could be a tad milder than expected. It will be this way through at least Friday morning, a race between fog and local areas of frost. For now, there’s still nothing on the medium range outlook indicating a pattern which would be worrisome, although the two week model is continuing to indicate we could have well below average temperatures beginning about the 9th or 10th.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bella
33 |
Porterville
33 |
Ivanhoe
31 |
Woodlake
32 |
| Strathmore
32 |
Mcfarland
32 |
Ducor
34 |
Tea Pot Dome
33 |
| Lindsay
31 |
Exeter
31 |
Famoso
33 |
Madera
33 |
| Belridge
32 |
Delano
33 |
North Bakersfield
Af |
Orosi
31 |
| Orange Cove
32 |
Lindcove
31 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
30 |
| Root Creek
31 |
Venice Hill
32 |
Rosedale
Af |
Jasmine
33 |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
32 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
Af |
Holland Creek
Af |
Tivy Valley
Af |
| Kite Road South
Af |
Kite Road North
Af |
AF=Above Freezing
Next report: New Year’s Day/morning