High Wind in California, February 28, 2002

INTERIOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
920 AM PST THU FEB 28 2002

MORNING SOUNDINGS SHOWING NORTHWEST FLOW BECOMING ESTABLISHED
ACROSS THE AREA AS SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVES SOUTH ACROSS THE PAC
NW INTO THE GREAT BASIN. DRY AIRMASS CONTINUES OVER THE AREA WITH
CLEAR SKIES PREVAILING. SOME SHALLOW FOG IN THE VALLEY EARLY THIS
MORNING WITH A FEW LOCATIONS DROPPING TO AROUND A QUARTER OF A
MILE. ALL STATIONS REPORTING 4 MILES OR BETTER VSBY AS OF 17Z.

MAIN CONCERN CONTINUES TO BE WIND. AMPLIFICATION OF THE UPPER FLOW IS
TAKING PLACE AS MODELS HAVE BEEN FORECASTING. SERIES OF WAVES
FORECAST TO DIVE SOUTH INTO THE GREAT BASIN THE NEXT 36 HOURS WITH
THE UPPER JET NOSING INTO THE WESTERN NV AND THE CENTRAL SIERRA.
MODELS SOLUTION DIVERGE BEYOND 12Z FRIDAY. THE AVN SOLUTION WOULD
YIELD STRONGER WINDS AND COLDER TEMPERATURES ACROSS FOR THE AREA
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. WE SHOULD GET A GOOD SHOT OF WIND REGARDLESS OF
WHICH MODEL SOLUTION VERIFIES AND CURRENT HEADLINES LOOK REASONABLE.
PRESSURE GRADIENTS TRENDING ONSHORE WITH COASTAL RAOBS INDICATING
FORMATION OF MARINE LAYER. ONSHORE FLOW WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE
DAY. PRESSURE GRADIENTS AND THERMAL PACKING DOES NOT LOOK TOO
IMPRESSIVE UNTIL THIS EVENING THOUGH AND WINDS ALONG THE WEST SIDE
OF THE VALLEY MAY NOT REACH ADVISORY LEVEL UNTIL EVENING TIME FRAME.

CURRENT FORECAST IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MINOR UPDATE
THIS MORNING TO REMOVE MENTION OF FOG.

.HNX...WIND ADVISORY FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY...
       FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS...AND KERN COUNTY DESERTS...FOR
       LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.
    ...HIGH WIND WATCH FOR THE INDIAN WELLS VALLEY FOR FRIDAY NIGHT
       AND SATURDAY.

TAL