Wind Advisory 64, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Hanford CA
426 PM PST Thu Dec 26 2024

.UPDATE...
Updated AIR QUALITY ISSUES section.

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.KEY MESSAGES...

1. A disturbance moving in this evening will bring more chances
of precipitation to the area. Another disturbance is expected
to bring chances of precipitation to the area on Sunday.

2. Dense Fog is possible across the San Joaquin Valley on
Saturday morning.

3. Dry conditions and seasonable temperatures will prevail for
most of next week.

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.DISCUSSION...High clouds ahead of a strong storm which is
approaching Norcal spread inland into central CA overnight. This
inhibited widespread fog formation in the San Joaquin Valley
this morning and dense fog was limited to the Lemoore area for a
short time after sunrise. Dry conditions are prevailing across
our area today with high clouds streaming in from the northwest.

Meanwhile, the incoming storm currently centered near 40N/133W is
already pushing precipitation into northwestern CA and the
precipitation is progged to push southward through this
afternoon and reach the northern portion of our CWFA this
evening. Latest QPF progs continue to favor the northern
portions of our CWFA with Merced County progged to pick up a
tenth inch to a third of an inch of rainfall tonight and Friday
morning with a tenth of an inch or less further south in the
San Joaquin Valley and West Side Hills. The PoE of a tenth of an
inch of rainfall is between 80 and 100 percent for most of
Merced County, 40 percent for Fresno and 20 percent for Visalia.
Most of the Sierra Nevada from Kings Canyon northward is
progged to pick up between a half inch and an inch of liquid
precipitation while further south a quarter to half inch is
expected. A Winter Weather Advisory continues for the higher
elevations of Yosemite National Park and the Upper San Joaquin
River area where 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall is expected
above 6000 feet. In addition to the precipitation, this system
is expected to provide for a brief period of increased winds
along the Mojave Desert Slopes on Friday although precipitation
is expected to remain minimal in Kern County with up to a tenth
of an inch of rain in the Tehachapi Mountains and trace amounts
to a few hundredths elsewhere.

The precipitation is expected to end by Friday afternoon as a
high pressure ridge pushes inland into CA. This upper ridge is
expected to strengthen on Friday night and Saturday resulting in
drier weather and a potentially foggy morning for the San
Joaquin Valley on Saturday with the PoE for visibility below a
quarter mile between 50 and 70 percent along the SR 99 corridor
between Merced and Fresno.

An upper trough is progged to push through the PAC NW on Sunday
and Sunday night and bring chances of light precipitation from
Fresno County northward during this time frame. Ensemble
members are in fairly good agreement with building an upper
ridge off the CA coast early next week then shifting it
eastward into central CA by midweek. This will result in dry
weather and a slow warming trend across our area next week with
areas of night and morning fog possible in the San Joaquin
Valley each day from Monday onward.

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.AVIATION...(00Z ISSUANCE)

In the San Joaquin Valley and West Side Hills, thru 06Z Fri,
areas of MVFR with local IFR in low clouds, mist and haze. After
06Z Fri, areas of MVFR with local IFR in low clouds and rain.

In the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills, areas of MVFR and
local mountain obscuring IFR in upslope clouds and precipitation.

In the Tehachapi Mountains, areas of MVFR and local mountain
obscuring IFR in upslope clouds and precipitation after 12Z Fri.

In the Kern County Deserts, VFR conditions will prevail.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
On Friday December 27 2024, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status
is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno, Kern, and Madera
Counties. Burning Discouraged in Kings, Merced, and Tulare
Counties, and Kern (Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia
National Park and Forest.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium.

Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit
www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information
and/or to provide feedback.

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.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to noon PST
Friday for CAZ323-326.

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