December 29, 2020
Summary: A north/northeast flow aloft continues to be lifted by the Kern County mountains with upslope clouds continuing to regenerate over most of Kern County and southeastern Tulare County. As of 1:30, Bakersfield was reporting an overcast based at 2,200 feet, Porterville reported a broken layer of clouds at just 600 feet while most of the rest of the valley is clear to partly cloudy with temperatures in the low to mid 50s. dew points are averaging in the mid 40s, so as the radiational cooling process sets up, widespread fog and low clouds will be the result in areas with relatively clear skies at the present time. North of Kern County, there will be a race between frost and fog, as is so typical this time of year. More in the frost discussion below.
The upper high off shore will migrate further south over the next 24 hours, allowing a fast moving weak trough of low pressure to move through central California New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Eve night. there’s even a slight chance of a few sprinkles from Fresno County north.
Beginning Friday, a flat zone of high pressure will extend from the eastern Pacific across the southern 2/3 of California and into the Desert Southwest. The storm track will become zonal, meaning generally from west to east, into the Pacific Northwest and roughly the northern 1/3 of California. The storm track will begin to slowly sag southward early next week. The chance of rain will begin to increase Monday and Tuesday as the first storms of the New Year arrive in central California. Models show a stronger system affecting the southern 2/3 of California roughly a week from Thursday and Friday.
In the meantime, for the Friday through Sunday period, it will be a mix of variable high clouds and possibly extensive night and morning fog with partial afternoon clearing.
Forecast: A low overcast will continue tonight in much of Kern County and possibly southeastern Tulare County. Otherwise, it will be clear to partly cloudy with widespread ground fog forming later tonight. Extensive fog and low overcast Wednesday with clearing in some areas during the afternoon. Widespread fog and low overcast Wednesday night and Thursday morning. mostly cloudy above the low cloud deck with a slight chance of sprinkles Thursday and Thursday night. areas of fog and low clouds during the morning hours New Year’s Day, then mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy during the afternoon. Variable cloudiness at times Friday night through Saturday night with areas of morning fog and low clouds. Increasing cloudiness Sunday with a slight chance of showers Sunday and Sunday night. rain becoming likely at times Monday into Tuesday morning with a chance of showers Tuesday afternoon.
Short Term:
| Madera 28/54/33/55 | Reedley 29/52/34/54 | Dinuba 28/52/33/53 | |
| Porterville 28/54/34/53 | Lindsay 27/53/33/55 | Delano 29/55/35/54 | |
| Bakersfield 39/55/37/53 | Taft 40/54/43/55 | Arvin 35/55/35/54 | |
| Lamont 34/53/35/55 | Pixley 29/52/34/54 | Tulare 27/52/33/53 | |
| Woodlake 29/53/35/54 | Hanford 29/54/34/54 | Orosi 28/53/33/54 | |
Winds: Winds through Friday will be generally at or less than 10 MPH late mornings and afternoons and at or less than 5 MPH nights and early mornings with extended periods of near calm conditions through Thursday.
Rain: There is a slight chance of a few sprinkles from Fresno County north Thursday and Thursday night. otherwise, dry conditions will prevail through at least Saturday night. the storm track will begin to sag slowly southward early next week with a slight chance of rain from mainly Fresno County north by late Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, a more vigorous system will move through with the likelihood of rain with yet another shot at precipitation about a week from Thursday and Friday.
Frost: Upslope clouds continue to regenerate against the Kern County mountains. As of the time of this writing, most of Kern County and southeastern Tulare County remained under a low overcast. The rest of the valley was partly cloudy. Drier air will continue to mix out the upslope clouds during the night. however, it’s entirely possible these clouds will remain in place through Tuesday morning, mainly in Kern County but possibly also affecting southeastern Tulare County. If these clouds hang in there, temperatures will remain in the 30s. However, if skies open up, which is entirely possible, the coldest low pond areas have the potential to drop to 26 to 27 degrees with most flatland locations between 28 and 32. Hillsides will remain above freezing. The inversion tonight, especially before sunrise, will firm up with temperatures 4 to 8 degrees warmer at most locations at the 34 foot level.
Where skies remain relatively clear tonight, widespread ground fog will have no problem forming, lifting into a low overcast in some areas Wednesday morning.
For Thursday morning, we should begin to see increasing amounts of higher clouds which could potentially hold temperatures in the 30s. these clouds should hang in there for much of Thursday night into early New Year’s morning, maintaining generally low to mid 30s.
Over the weekend, we should have a potpourri of general cloudiness at times with possibly widespread fog and low clouds nights and mornings.
An active pattern will begin to affect our region beginning Sunday as a mild westerly flow sets up. Expect above freezing temperatures from Sunday through at least next Thursday.
Lows Tonight:
| Terra Bell
29 |
Porterville
28 |
Ivanhoe
27 |
Woodlake
29 |
| Strathmore
28 |
McFarland
28 |
Ducor
30 |
Tea Pot Dome
28 |
| Lindsay
27 |
Exeter
27 |
Famoso
28 |
Madera
28 |
| Belridge
27 |
Delano
29 |
North Bakersfield
30 |
Orosi
28 |
| Orange Cove
29 |
Lindcove
27 |
Lindcove Hillside
Af |
Sanger River Bottom
25 |
| Root Creek
27 |
Venice Hill
29 |
Rosedale
30 |
Jasmine
30 |
| Arvin
Af |
Lamont
Af |
Plainview
29 |
Mettler
Af |
| Edison
Af |
Maricopa
31 |
Holland Creek
32 |
Tivy Valley
29 |
| Kite Road South
32 |
Kite Road North
29 |
AF=Above Freezing
Next update: December 30/am