A sudden and drastic weather change is on the horizon for central California as a cold storm is set to sweep through the region. After enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures, residents of Bakersfield and surrounding areas will experience a 20-degree drop in daytime temperatures within a 24-hour period.
The low pressure system responsible for this cold front is moving south from the waters off the coast of Washington and Oregon. While this “cold storm” is not expected to cause significant damage, it will bring snow to the major passes and isolated thunderstorms with small hail on Friday.
Rainfall amounts are expected to be minimal, with the South Valley receiving only .05-.20″ of rain and the mountains seeing 1-2″ of snow above 3,000′. Following the cold storm, temperatures will plummet over the weekend, with morning lows dipping into the 30s in some areas.
However, relief is in sight as a major warm-up is forecasted for the middle of next week, with temperatures soaring into the mid-80s. Despite the cold weekend ahead, residents can look forward to turning on their AC units as summer-like weather makes a comeback.
As a bonus, a second low pressure wave will pass through the region on Sunday and Monday, potentially hindering views of a partial eclipse on Monday morning. Residents in the South Valley may have better luck viewing the eclipse from the desert, where skies are expected to be mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Stay tuned for updates on this dynamic weather situation.