December 28, 2022
As of the time of this writing, the leading edge of the cloud shield of the next storm was located just off the central coast. Behind the leading edge is an atmospheric river of air which extends a few thousand miles out over the Pacific Ocean, finally ending up northeast of the Hawaiian Islands. The chance of rain will begin to increase late tonight with periods of rain continuing Thursday and Thursday night. The next one is right on its heels and has the potential of dumping another 1 to 2 inches of rain on the valley floor and several inches below the snow level along the west facing slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Snow levels will begin to rise due to subtropical air being entrained within these systems. Two to three feet of new snow can be expected above roughly 7,500 feet. It’s been a long time since widespread flood watches were out for the valley, but the National Weather Service currently has flood watches out for the entire valley and the nearby foothills. Overall, a flat ridge of high pressure is located several hundred miles off the southern California coast. Storms are using pretty much an conveyor belt configuration to move right over the top of the high with all this moisture making a beeline for northern and central California. Models for after this weekend show a similar pattern continuing as high pressure remains well to the southwest of its typical residence, especially by the standards of recent years. As long as we have this configuration, we will continue to reap the benefits of much needed precipitation.
Forecast: Increasing cloudiness tonight with a chance of rain after midnight. Rain likely at times Thursday and Thursday night. A chance of rain Friday, becoming likely Friday night. Rain likely Saturday and Saturday night, possibly heavy at times. Partly cloudy Sunday and Sunday night. A chance of rain Monday, becoming likely Monday night through Tuesday with a chance of showers Wednesday.
Temperatures:
| Madera 44/53/48/58 | Reedley 44/52/49/58 | Dinuba 43/54/47/59 |
| Porterville 43/55/49/59 | Lindsay 42/55/49/58 | Delano 44/54/49/58 |
| Bakersfield 45/54/50/59 | Taft 44/55/50/61 | Arvin 44/56/50/60 |
| Lamont 45/55/50/61 | Pixley 43/53/49/58 | Tulare 42/53/45/59 |
| Woodlake 42/53/49/57 | Hanford 44/53/49/58 | Orosi 42/53/47/58 |
Wind Discussion: Winds through tonight will be mainly out of the southeast at 5 to 10 mph. Winds Thursday through Friday will be mainly out of the southeast at 8 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph possible, mainly from Tulare County north.
Rain Already, the leading edge of the cloud shield of the next system is almost on shore. The chance of showers will begin to increase after midnight, becoming likely Thursday. Expect periods of rain to continue Thursday night through Friday night. Heaviest rain may fall between Saturday and Sunday mornings as another AR situation develops. Ladies and gentlemen, satellite imagery across the Pacific makes it hard to see where one storm ends and another begins. Both the new 7 day and the two week models show the storm door wide open.
Frost: Expect above freezing conditions.
Lows Tonight:
All locations will be above freezing tonight.
Next report: December 29 morning
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.