April 19, 2018
Summary: A rather compact low pressure system moved down the central coast overnight and is currently centered near the Channel Islands. Radar shows the bulk of the precipitation wrapped tightly around the center of circulation. This batch will begin to move inland through the Los Angeles Basin then points eastward during the course of the day. There are a few light showers occurring over the south valley, however most locations will receive just trace amounts to perhaps a few hundredths in those regions that do record measurable rain.
Pressure differences will begin to increase today as high pressure over the eastern Pacific begins to move eastward behind the low. Pressures will begin to fall over the interior this afternoon. This will be conducive for gusty winds in many areas, especially above the valley floor. But even on the valley floor, somewhat breezy conditions will prevail, especially along the west side. This appears to be the last chance at precipitation for a while as strong upper level high pressure will quickly build eastward beginning Friday and on through the early part of next week, resulting in a rapid warming trend. As early as Sunday, the warmest locations on the valley floor could be near to even above the 90 degree mark.
Beginning late Tuesday and lasting through Thursday, some kind of very weak low will move into California from the northwest. However, models continue to indicate this will be pretty much a non event for the valley with just partly cloudy skies and a marginal cooling trend. Medium range models are still consistently portraying a dry weather pattern with somewhat above average temperatures late next week and into the following week.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy today with a chance of light showers, mainly south of Fresno County this morning. Mostly clear tonight but possibly remaining mostly to partly cloudy in Kern County. Mostly clear Friday through Monday night with a warming trend. Mostly clear to occasionally partly cloudy Tuesday through Thursday.
Short Term:
| Madera 67/42/77/46/85 | Reedley 66/42/77/47/85 | Dinuba 65/42/76/46/84 | |
| Porterville 67/42/78/46/86 | Lindsay 67/43/78/46/86 | Delano 67/44/78/48/86 | |
| Bakersfield 66/48/78/52/85 | Arvin 65/46/77/50/86 | Taft 65/46/77/49/86 | |
| Lamont 66/46/77/50/86 | Pixley 66/44/77/48/84 | Tulare 66/42/76/48/85 | |
| Woodlake 67/41/78/46/86 | Hanford 66/42/77/48/85 | Orosi 66/42/77/47/85 | |
Seven Day Forecast:
| Sunday
Mostly clear 55/90 |
Monday
Mostly clear 55/88 |
Tuesday
Partly cloudy 55/81 |
Wednesday
Partly cloudy 47/77 |
Thursday
Partly cloudy 46/79 |
Two Week Outlook: April 26 through May 2: For the first time in a while, this model is indicating the development of a strong ridge over the Pacific and much of the western United States. This will revert us into a pattern resulting in above average temperatures with very little, if any, chance of precipitation.
March: Not much encouragement as far as rainfall is concerned as this model is indicating below average precipitation, especially over the second half of the month. So far, this model predicts near average temperatures.
March, April, May: The ninety-day outlook doesn’t exactly make one happy if rain is the desired outcome. It does show a better than average chance of above average temperatures, mainly due to high pressure off shore, and below average precipitation.
Winds: Winds will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 MPH through this evening with local gusts to near 30 MPH possible, mainly in westerly Fresno County and much of Kings County. Winds later tonight will decrease to 5 to 10 MPH. winds Friday through Sunday will be generally less than 12 MPH afternoons and evenings and 8 MPH during the night and morning hours with periods of near calm conditions.
Rain: Scattered light showers are confined to the south valley this morning. Most locations are not recording anything measurable at all. It is possible isolated pockets out there could record a few hundredths of an inch, but by and large this is pretty much a non event. The low responsible for the light showers will move quickly through southern California today. Most of the shower activity should end this afternoon with dry weather tonight and lasting pretty much indefinitely. The two week model has done a bit of a flip flop, showing the possibility of showers for southern California but this may be a deviation of the overall pattern so we’ll maintain a dry forecast for the longer term.
Frost: All locations will be above 32 degrees.
Afternoon Dew Points Today: Mid to upper 30s. Kern: Low to mid 30s.
Humidity: Visalia: 30%/95% Bakersfield: 25%/80%
Actual Humidity April 17, 2018: Delano, 93%/41%, Porterville, 99%/34%
Percentage of Sunshine Today/Tomorrow: Visalia: Today: 50% tomorrow 90% Bakersfield: Today: 30% Tomorrow: 70%
ET Rates Over the Past Seven Days April 17, 2018: Stratford 1.40, Parlier 1.19, Blackwell 1.46 Lindcove 1.12, Arvin 1.28, Orange Cove 1.21, Porterville 1.21, Delano 1.25, Madera Two 1.14. Courtesy University of California *=estimate, NA=not available.
Seven Day Soil Temperatures: Stratford 62, Parlier 64, Blackwell 67, Lindcove, 64, Arvin, 64, Orange Cove 64, Porterville 66, Delano 69, Madera Two 63
Record Temperatures: 95/36. Average Temperatures: 75/48
Cooling Degree Days this Season: 27 +11 Courtesy of the NWS
Average temperatures for April so far, 62.8 +3.8
Precipitation: Seasonal total/average/above or below average:
Since October 1, 2017 Fresno: 6.73 season. or -3.59. Month to Date: .64
Since October 1, 2017, Bakersfield: 3.93, or -1.99, Month to Date: .20
Water year season is from October 1st through September.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Orange Cove, Parlier, Arvin, Shafter, Stratford, Madera two, Lindcove, Porterville, Hours at 45 or below 45.
Sunrise: 6:19 am Sunset: 7:37 pm. Hours of Daylight: 13:15
Yesterday’s Weather:
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 65 / 42 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 67 / 46 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 70 / 38 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 70 / 38 / 0.00 /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 73 / 45 / 0.00 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 68 / 39 / 0.00 /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DH1648 / 69 / 38 / 0.00 /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 70 / 38 / 0.00 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1656 / 69 / 43 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / 64 / 43 / 0.00 /
Rainfall
STOCKTON 0.00 9.09 71 21.64 169 12.83 14.06
MODESTO 0.00 8.00 68 16.78 143 11.75 13.11
MERCED 0.00 6.91 62 15.79 142 11.12 12.50
MADERA 0.00 7.22 68 14.17 133 10.69 12.02
FRESNO 0.00 6.73 65 17.08 165 10.35 11.50
HANFORD 0.00 4.70 52 10.65 118 8.99 10.10
BAKERSFIELD 0.00 3.93 66 7.76 131 5.93 6.47
BISHOP 0.00 1.13 27 8.81 208 4.23 5.18
SALINAS 0.00 7.13 60 16.32 137 11.92 12.83
PASO ROBLES 0.00 9.62 80 15.96 133 11.97 12.78
SANTA MARIA 0.00 5.83 44 18.10 138 13.12 13.95
Next report: Friday, April 20