March 12, 2024

Summary  A weak weather system is moving down the valley. It’s clear that earlier models underestimated the upper air support needed for precipitation. an area of light rain is moving through central California and will move southeastward out  of the valley this afternoon. A big blocking ridge of high pressure will take shape off shore while a low pressure center develops over the lower Rockies and drops into Arizona and southern California. The only active weather will be over the mountain Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Models keep this cut off low in position all the way through the weekend as strong upper high pressure wraps around the northern rim of the low over central California. The high will bring warmer weather, especially next weekend and early next week with highs moving into the mid to upper 70s.  

Forecast Light showers for a time this morning, clearing this afternoon. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy tonight and on through Tuesday of next week.

Short Term:                                                                                                              

Madera 66/38/64/39/67	Reedley  67/39/64/40/67	Dinuba 65/39/65/39/68
Porterville 68/40/66/40/69	Lindsay 66/39/64/39/68	Delano 68/42/63/42/66
Bakersfield 65/48/64/42/67	Taft 62/47/60/44/61	Arvin 68/45/66/44/70
Lamont 68/44/66/43/70	Pixley 66/41/64/40/67	Tulare 64/41/65/41/68
Woodlake 65/44/66/43/68	Hanford 66/44/66/41/69	Orosi 65/41/65/42/68

Seven Day Forecast

Friday Mostly clear 39/67

Saturday Mostly clear 43/73

Sunday Mostly clear 74/44

Monday Mostly clear 47/75

Tuesday Mostly clear 49/78

Two Week Forecast:  March 18 through March 24: This model shows a chance of a weather system moving through the southern half of California with dry weather in northern California. With that in mind, there’s a minimal chance of showers, especially in the south valley with above average temperatures.

Thirty Day Report: If this model has much credence, rainfall will remain above average, especially in northern and central California, stretching into the interior west. Temperatures however, look to be marginally below average.

Ninety Day Report: This model indicates near to marginally above average rainfall over the next three months. Equal chances are given for temperatures being above or below average.

Winds:  Winds today will be out of the northwest at 5 to 12 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph tonight and Wednesday. Gusts to 45 mph will be possible along the west side. Winds Wednesday night through Friday will be generally at or less than 10 mph and generally out of the northwest afternoons and evenings.

Rain: Light rain is occurring over the valley this morning from a weather system which has defied model information. Light precipitation will move all the way down the valley this morning with generally just light amounts, generally ranging from a few hundredths upwards to 15 hundredths. Dry weather will return this afternoon. Models look dry all the way through the weekend and into next week.   

Mid afternoon dew points: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s

ET for the past seven days: Stratford, .78, Parlier, .79, Arvin .70, Delano .77.

Soil temperatures: Stratford 56, Parlier 57, Arvin NA, Delano 57  

Average Temperatures: 67/44,  Record Temperatures: 84/28

Heating  Degree Days Season.  1584 -512  varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS

Precipitation:  Seasonal total for Fresno 7.00, Monthly  .84

Precipitation for Bakersfield:  Season: 5.11, Monthly:  .28

Average Temperature this Month 54.8 -0.3  taken at NWS Hanford.

Water year season is from October 1^st through September 30.

Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28:  Parlier, 793  Arvin, 692 Belridge, 690 Shafter, 741 Stratford, 784 Delano 783.  Courtesy UC Davis

Sunrise, 6:12.  Sunset, 6:05, hours of daylight, 11:51

NA=Not available

Yesterday’s Weather: 

MCE   : Merced AP        153 :  67 /  52 /  0.04 /

MAE   : Madera AP        253 :  68 /  52 /  0.00 /

FAT   : Fresno AP        333 :  69 /  53 /  0.00 /

HJO   : Hanford AP       242 :  70 /  52 /  0.00 /

NLC   : Lemoore NAS      234 :  70 /  51 /     T /

BFL   : Bakersfield AP   496 :  69 /  45 /  0.00 /

VIS   : Visalia AP       292 :  69 /  50 /  0.00 /

Rainfall:                                     24hr        2024          %          l.y.               %                  ave              Yearly ave                                                                                                                               

STOCKTON                         T   10.86   104   19.59   188    10.42    13.45

MODESTO                          T   13.59   146   16.60   178     9.32    12.27

MERCED                        0.00   11.66   132   16.92   191     8.85    11.80

MADERA                        0.00    7.38    92    9.07   113     8.04    10.79

FRESNO                        0.00    7.00    87   15.53   194     8.02    10.99

HANFORD                       0.00    6.33   106   12.07   202     5.99     8.13

BAKERSFIELD                   0.00    5.11   108    7.84   166     4.71     6.36

BISHOP                        0.00    4.36   121   12.40   344     3.60     4.84

DEATH VALLEY NP               0.00    2.38   159    0.96    64     1.50     2.20

SALINAS                          T   10.60   108   12.42   126     9.85    12.58

PASO ROBLES                      T   14.87   155   17.17   179     9.61    12.15

SANTA MARIA                   0.00   12.96   126   19.33   188    10.30    13.32