Author: Trudy Hibler

Please accept our apologies.  John’s route to recovery from double pneumonia did not go smoothly.  Additional trips to the ER were required along with stronger antibiotics.  He’s been itching to get back behind his computers, but I made him wait a few extra days, until he could walk around the house outside without assistance.   …

February 17, 2018 Summary:  The leading edge of the cloud deck from a strong but cold and moisture starved low pressure system has entered northern California.  This leading edge will become an interesting weather pattern for California.  Models show a cold front driving down the  valley Sunday night and early Monday with a chance of…

February 15, 2018 Summary:  There is a distinct difference in pressure between northern and southern California due to a literally invisible trough that moved through before dawn this morning.  Winds are generally light in the central, southern, and eastern sectors of the valley but are averaging between 15 and 20 MPH on the western side,…

February 15, 2018 Summary: You couldn’t tell, but a weak wave of low pressure moving from north to south went through during the early morning hours.  Satellite imagery indicates that all of central California is enjoying clear skies this morning.  It will be somewhat cooler today as the air aloft chills a bit.  I noted…

February 14, 2018 Summary: Heavy cloud cover based at roughly 10,000 feet moved in during the early morning hours, creating milder conditions than expected.  The culprit is the same upper low which is now centered just southwest of the Channel Islands.  Light showers are currently occurring from Los Angeles and Ventura Counties as far north…

February 12, 2018 Summary:  It seems in dry years you cannot buy a raindrop.  Considering we’re only at 20% to 25% of seasonal average, it’s pretty discouraging.  The current upper level low is centered near the Kings/Fresno County line and is moving southwestward.  The northern half of the San Joaquin Valley has cleared out, but…

February 12, 2018 Summary:  The center of circulation of a cold upper low is just to the north of Yosemite this morning.  Doppler radar is depicting light snow showers over the mountains from Madera County northward and increasing clouds over the northern portion of the valley.  In the south valley, considerable low level clouds, or…

February 11, 2018 Summary:  Skies are relatively clear throughout central California at this hour with the exception of a few high clouds.  Most locations were down into the 30s this morning, pretty much as expected.   More on that in the frost discussion below.   As we look to our north, we see a well defined…

February 10, 2018 Summary:  Gone is the warm air inversion which has kept the valley capped for so long.  Northwesterly winds are currently moving down the valley, generally at about 5 to 15 MPH from Fresno southward.  Along the west side have been some decent gusts.  At last report the Lemoore Naval Air Station was…

February 10, 2018 Summary:  The change in the overall pattern we’ve been discussing has occurred as the high has backed up off shore, allowing the first wave of weak upper level low pressure to move through.  This little feature is marked only by a band of high clouds which are currently moving through with the…