March 16, 2023 pm
Mostly clear skies prevail over central California. The only exception is some cumulous clouds over Kern and Tulare Counties brought on by the heat of the day. We are still under a weak ridge of upper level high pressure which will result in a warming trend through Saturday. Models show most locations warming into the 70s Saturday afternoon. The Pacific Ocean is alive with activity which will begin to approach the coast Sunday as the first in possibly three Pacific storms begins to move in. The first system is no impressive but should result in measurable precipitation in most areas. It still appears we have another atmospheric event starting Monday as a large low pressure system centers off of northern California. Just beneath this low will be the jet stream which will carry a significant amount of moisture into California. Models for Monday afternoon through Wednesday for the entire state of California indicate heavy precipitation. the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada will pick up another 3 to6 inches of rain with several feet of snow up high. Even though snow levels will be a big lower this time, the rain will exacerbate the flooding in many areas. For the second day in a row, a third storm is shown moving into our region about Friday or Saturday of next week.
Forecast: Mostly clear through Friday. Partly cloudy Friday night through Saturday. Increasing clouds Saturday night. Light showers Sunday and Sunday night. Increasing cloudiness Monday with periods of rain Monday afternoon through Tuesday night, locally heavy at times. Showers Wednesday with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Partly cloudy Wednesday night and Thursday.
Temperatures:
| Madera 39/68/42/71 | Reedley 38/68/43/70 | Dinuba 37/67/43/69 |
| Porterville 39/68/43/71 | Lindsay 37/67/43/70 | Delano 41/67/44/72 |
| Bakersfield 45/67/47/71 | Taft 46/66/50/70 | Arvin 42/68/45/72 |
| Lamont 44/69/45/73 | Pixley 39/67/43/71 | Tulare 37/66/43/70 |
| Woodlake 39/68/43/71 | Hanford 41/68/44/70 | Orosi 38/67/43/71 |
Wind Discussion: Winds will be generally at or less than 12 mph afternoons and early evenings through Sunday and will be variable. Winds during the night and morning hours will be at or less than 7 mph with periods of near calm conditions
Rain: Our temporary dry spell will continue through Saturday night. The next round of precipitation will begin Sunday in the form of a weak trough of low pressure. This system is quite anemic with most locations expected to receive .10 or less Sunday through Sunday night. We will begin to deal with another significant rain event for central California Monday. models are still showing a large low off the northern California coast by Monday night with a feed of rich, subtropical moisture underneath the low and flowing into California. Snow levels will be a tad lower than previous storms. Even so, so levels will still initially be about 7,000 feet. Rainfall amounts on the valley floor should be significant Monday through Wednesday. Much of the central and east side of the valley wll pick up one to two inches of additional rain north of Kern County with nearly an inch along the east side with about a half inch or so over the valley portion of Kern County. Models are now showing another storm to follow during the next Friday and Saturday.
Frost: All locations will be above freezing for at least the next several days.
Next report: March 17 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.