May 20, 2022
A strong trough of low pressure has carved itself out over the northern Rockies southward into the Great Basin while a surface low is centered over southern Nevada. In the meantime, upper level high pressure is building off shore, creating a strong difference in pressure between off shore northern California and the Great Basin. This is generating some impressive wind gusts along the west side of the valley this morning, along with plenty of blowing dust. At last report Madera was reporting gusts to 25 mph, Hanford 30 mph, Merced 32 mph with Lemoore reporting sustained winds at 38 mph, gusting to 42. Currently, there is a 15 millibar difference in pressure between San Francisco and Las Vegas. This will maintain strong, gusty winds over much of the valley through the early evening hours. The pressure gradient will begin to decrease tonight with somewhat breezy conditions Friday, but today will be the windiest. A strong northwest flow aloft will also generate some upslope clouds against the north facing slopes of the Tehachapi, possibly arcing out over the valley floor in Kern County tonight and Saturday morning. Otherwise, skies will be mostly clear. That upper high off shore will build inland Saturday night through Monday for a warming trend. The high will be almost right overhead Wednesday and Thursday, driving temperatures to near the century mark. Temperatures will head south again next weekend as the latest trough of low pressure shifts inland.
Forecast: Mostly clear today with areas of blowing dust and much cooler. Mostly clear Saturday through Wednesday with a warming trend. Mostly clear Wednesday night through Friday.
Short Term:
| Madera 83/48/88/50/91 | Reedley 85/49/89/51/92 | Dinuba 83/47/89/51/91 |
| Porterville 84/49/88/51/92 | Lindsay 83/47/88/51/92 | Delano 86/51/89/51/92 |
| Bakersfield 84/59/89/58/91 | Taft 82/60/86/61/88 | Arvin 86/51/89/52/91 |
| Lamont 85/52/89/54/92 | Pixley 85/50/88/52/91 | Tulare 83/48/88/51/90 |
| Woodlake 83/48/89/50/92 | Hanford 86/51/89/52/92 | Orosi 83/48/87/49/92 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Monday
Mostly clear 54/93 |
Tuesday
Mostly clear 56/95 |
Wednesday
Mostly clear 59/98 |
Thursday
Mostly clear 61/100 |
Friday
Mostly clear 60/99 |
Two Week Outlook: May 27 through June 2: This model is now indicating a trough of low pressure dominating for much of this time period, resulting in near to possibly below temperatures. The chance of precipitation remains very low.
May: This model shows a dominant high stretching from Texas to southern California, resulting in somewhat above average temperatures for the month. It also gives an equal chance of above or below normal precipitation.
May, June, July: This model shows an early season high over the Four Corners region of the desert southwest, stretching westward to California, causing temperatures as we head into summer to be marginally above average. Since this is the dry season, the chances of precipitation will be very low
Wind Discussion: Winds through tonight will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 mph. Gusts to near 35 mph are possible, mainly along the west side but locally elsewhere. Winds Saturday through Saturday evening will be mainly out of the northwest at 8 to 15 mph with gusts to 20 mph along the west side. Later Saturday night through Monday, winds will be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 mph afternoons and evenings, becoming light and variable during the night and morning hours.
Rain: Expect dry conditions for at least the next 7 to 10 days.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing tonight and each night for the foreseeable future.
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 74%/23% Porterville, 82%/24%. Midafternoon dew points: Low to mid 40s. Low to mid 40 s.
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 100%, tomorrow 100%. Bakersfield: Today: 100%/. Tomorrow, 100%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2,04, Parlier 1.78, Arvin 1.99, Orange Cove 1.91, Porterville 1.70, Delano 1.70. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford, 62, Parlier 70, Arvin, 69, Orange Cove 71, Porterville 76, Delano NA. *=data missing.
Average Temperatures: 84/55. Record Temperatures: 103/42
Cooling Degree Days This Season. 118 -0. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.29 or -4.22. Monthly .00 -.26
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 5.40 or -.78. Monthly, .00 -.17
Average Temperature this month: 66. -0.9 Taken NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Belridge, 1016, Shafter, Stratford, Delano, Porterville. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise. 5:48, Sunset, 8:04, hours of daylight, 14.15
Yesterday’s Weather:
CE : Merced AP 153 : 95 / 70 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 93 / 62 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 93 / 68 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 94 / 61 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 95 / 63 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 90 / 68 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 91 / 62 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 92 / 63 / 0.00 /
Actual Humidity Range Yesterday: Delano, 68%/31% Porterville, 65%/25%. Midafternoon dew points: Low to mid 30s. Low to mid 30s s.
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 80%, tomorrow 80%. Bakersfield: Today: 100%/. Tomorrow, 90%.
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days: Stratford 2,20, Parlier 1.84, Arvin 2.05, Orange Cove 1.99, Porterville 1.76, Delano 1.76. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford, 63, Parlier 71, Arvin, 70, Orange Cove 72, Porterville 77, Delano NA. *=data missing.
Average Temperatures: 84/56. Record Temperatures: 102/44
Cooling Degree Days This Season. 132 +8. Varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno, 6.29 or -4.24. Monthly .00 -.28
Precipitation for Bakersfield, Season, 5.40 or -.79. Monthly, .00 -.18
Average Temperature this month: 67.4. -0.4 Taken NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Belridge, 1016, Shafter, Stratford, Delano, Porterville. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise. 5:47, Sunset, 8:04, hours of daylight, 14.16
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced AP 153 : 94 / 63 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera AP 253 : 94 / 62 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno AP 333 : 95 / 64 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford AP 242 : 96 / 66 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore NAS 234 : 97 / 66 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield AP 496 : 94 / 65 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia AP 292 : 95 / 63 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville AP 442 : 95 / 59 / 0.00 /
Rainfall: 24h Seas % LY % Ave 365
- STOCKTON 00 9.75 75 7.88 60 13.08 13.45
- MODESTO 00 8.99 76 7.12 60 11.83 12.27
- MERCED 00 7.44 65 7.00 61 11.47 11.80
- MADERA 00 M M 1.56 15 10.43 10.79
- FRESNO 00 6.29 60 6.59 63 10.53 10.99
- HANFORD 00 6.34 80 4.29 54 7.88 8.13
- BAKERSFIELD 00 5.40 87 2.77 45 6.19 6.36
- BISHOP 00 4.75 111 1.62 38 4.27 4.84
- SALINAS 00 7.31 59 5.75 47 12.30 12.58
- PASO ROBLES 00 8.70 73 6.74 57 11.88 12.15
- SANTA MARIA 00 7.79 60 6.87 53 13.06 13.32
Next report: May 21
At John Hibler Weather Forecasting, it is our goal to provide the most accurate forecasts available. Weather forecasting, unlike any other business, invites errors. Weather, by nature, is chaotic. It is our goal to be as accurate as humanly possible.