May 1, 2021
Over the past five weeks, I have experienced brain surgery (hopefully they didn’t drain out too much IQ), a collapsed right lung (twice), and the removal of a large cancerous tumor the size of a potato near my heart. As of now the prognosis is very good. If you ladies and gentlemen don’t think I felt your prayers, you’d be wrong as I most certainly did. Even though I’ve never met most of you, it’s almost like you’re part of my family. From the bottom of our hearts, Trudy and I would like to thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Today I begin a new and hopefully much healthier chapter in my life. I can’t imagine doing anything other than what I do. I’m one of those rare people who has the privilege of making a living at what I love to do. And what I love to do is serve you to the best of my abilities.
Back to work. Variable mid and high level clouds are spread over central California in association with a weak trough of low pressure. As of the time of this writing, wind conditions were rather tranquil on the valley floor. This will change, however, later today as the daytime heating process begins to mix down wind energy aloft. The latest sounding above Monterey indicated winds out of the northwest at 45 MPH as low as 3,500 feet. The center and west side of the valley will see a marked increase in winds out of the northwest this afternoon with gusts possibly into the 30 to 45 MPH range kicking up blowing dust. Along the eastern flank of the valley, winds will be in the 15 to 30 MPH range, diminishing somewhat tonight, but increasing again Sunday as the daytime heating process begins anew. Already this morning, strong differences in surface pressure are beginning to show up. Currently, the altimeter reading at San Francisco was 3.03 inches of mercury while at Vegas the reading had fallen to 29.77. Even though the jet stream is rather weak with this system, typical gusty springtime conditions will prevail over the next 48 hours or so. The only precipitation chances with this system will be over the summit of the Sierra Nevada. We may see some upslope clouds develop against the valley facing slopes of the Kern County mountains later tonight and Sunday.
Weak upper level high pressure over the eastern Pacific will begin to push in from the west Monday for a marginal warming trend. The next trough of low pressure to affect California will be Thursday and Thursday night as a trough of low pressure moves through Friday through Saturday with no rain, but there will be variable amounts of cloud cover and a cooling trend.
Forecast: Variable cloudiness from Fresno County south today, mostly clear to partly cloudy tonight through Sunday. Mostly clear Sunday night through Thursday. Partly cloudy Friday and Saturday.
Short Term:
| Madera 84/50/83/51/86 | Reedley 85/49/84/51/87 | Dinuba 85/50/83/51/86 |
| Porterville 86/50/84/51/87 | Lindsay 86/49/84/50/87 | Delano 85/53/84/52/87 |
| Bakersfield 85/57/83/58/86 | Taft 85/59/82/59/85 | Arvin 86/55/82/56/86 |
| Lamont 85/54/82/55/87 | Pixley 85/49/83/51/86 | Tulare 85/49/84/52/86 |
| Woodlake 85/48/84/51/86 | Hanford 85/50/83/52/87 | Orosi 85/49/84/51/85 |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Tuesday
Mostly clear 53/91 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 56/94 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 55/91 |
Friday
Partly cloudy 52/83 |
Saturday
Partly cloudy 48/79 |
Two Week Outlook: May 8 through May 14: This model indicates a zone of upper level high pressure extending inland over California, resulting in somewhat above average temperatures. The chance of precipitation during this period will remain very low.
Winds Discussion: Winds will be light for a time this morning then will increase out of the west to northwest at 15 to 25 MPH this afternoon and evening. Gusts approaching 40 MPH cannot be ruled out near the center and west side of the valley. Winds will decrease somewhat later tonight then increase again Sunday to 10 to 20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH possible, mainly along the west side. Winds will decrease Sunday night. Winds Monday and Tuesday will be generally at or less than 15 MPH with generally light winds during the night and morning hours.
Rain Discussion: Expect dry conditions for the next seven to ten days, at least.
Frost Discussion: All locations will be above 32 degrees for at least the next seven to ten days.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Upper 30s to the lower 40s. Mid to upper 30s.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 69%/21% Porterville, 73%/18%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 70%, tomorrow 90%. Bakersfield: Today: 40% Tomorrow: 70%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days:. Stratford 1.52, Parlier 1.46, Arvin 1.46, Orange Cove 1.48, Porterville 1.32, Delano 1.36. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 64, Parlier 66, Arvin, 66, Orange Cove 69, Porterville 70, Delano 64.
Record Temperatures: 101/38. Average Temperatures: 80/53
Heating Degree Days This Season:. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Average Temperature for this month So Far: courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.59 or -4.08 or 62% of average. Month to Date: .15 or -80
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 2.77, +or- -3.32 or 45% of average. Month to date .77 or -.21
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, 982, Parlier, 1128, Arvin, 882, Belridge, 1029, Shafter, 1008, Stratford, 1082, Delano, 1157, Porterville, 1108
Hours at 45 or below 45. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise: 6:03 am Sunset: 7:49 Hours of Daylight: 13:43
Yesterday’s Weather
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 93 / 53 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 94 / 51 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DHM / 95 / 61 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 94 / 52 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 95 / 53 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DHM / 94 / 62 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 94 / 55 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1652 / 93 / 68 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 91 / 61 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24hr W.Y. % Last Y. % Ave. Year ave.
STOCKTON 0.00 7.88 60 7.99 61 13.15 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 7.12 59 6.86 57 12.08 13.11
MERCED 0.00 7.00 61 0.00 0 11.48 12.50
MADERA 0.00 M M M M 11.06 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.59 62 0.00 0 10.67 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.29 46 0.00 0 9.32 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 2.77 45 0.00 0 6.09 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.62 38 2.25 52 4.31 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 5.74 47 9.00 74 12.19 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 6.74 55 11.34 93 12.17 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 6.86 51 10.39 77 13.41 13.95
Next report: May 3/pm