High Wind and Strong Wind in California, April 9, 2019

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
242 AM PDT Tue Apr 9 2019

.SYNOPSIS...A weakening low pressure system will bring cooler
temperatures, increased winds and a chance of light precipitation
to the area through today. Another system may bring some light
precipitation to the area on Thursday and Friday. Mainly seasonal
temperatures and dry conditions will prevail on Saturday, and
another system could bring a chance of precipitation to the
Sierra Nevada on Sunday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...An upper-level trough of low entering into our area
from the Pac NW/Northern CA is currently bringing light showers
over portions of the Sierra Nevada, mainly Fresno County and
northward. Expect mainly light showers to spread south into Kern
County later this morning, and winds will continue to increase
through this afternoon below the passes and canyons in eastern
Kern County, as well as below the passes along the west side of
the San Joaquin Valley. The trough will move eastward into the
Great Basin by this evening. However, a shortwave upper-level jet
is forecast to pass behind the trough, and enough instability will
warrant a slight chance of thunderstorms over the Sierra from
Yosemite to Sequoia National Parks for mainly the afternoon into
the early evening hours. Snow levels are expected to lower to
around 5,500 feet in the Sierra and around 6,000 feet in the Kern
County mountains during late this morning and into the afternoon,
Although relatively light rain and snow amounts will likely occur
with this system, some brief heavy precipitation is possible with
any thunderstorms that may develop.

Expect mainly dry conditions on Wednesday as an offshore ridge of
high pressure will move towards the West Coast, although
temperatures remain relatively cool, or closer to seasonal
averages.

The next low pressure system will bring a chance of rain and high
elevation snow showers in the Sierra by Thursday morning, and
chances for precipitation will spread into Kern County on Thursday
night into Friday morning. As of this writing, mainly light
amounts are expected with this system. With regards to the models,
the GFS and Euro are in better agreement. Both models are now
bringing a shortwave trough over Central California that will
provide energy to develop a broader inside-slider trough centered
over the Great Basin and Desert Southwest by Friday evening. A
brief uptick in winds is possible over the Sierra, as well as the
Kern County mountain and desert areas on Friday, although at this
time it does not appear as strong as with today's system.

An upper-level ridge of high pressure will arrive by Saturday,
although will likely be short-lived and move east of the forecast
area, as another weather system arrives from the Pac NW on late
Sunday into Monday. However, there is a bit of uncertainty
regarding how far south precipitation will reach, as some of the
guidance keeps any precipitation over mainly Northern California,
or well to the north of our CWA, although we have mainly slight
chance POPs for now. Otherwise, expect mainly seasonal temperatures
for early next week with breezy conditions possible at times.

&&

.AVIATION...
Gusty NW winds up to 40 mph along the West side of the San Joaquin
Valley through 09Z Wed. Gusty NW winds up to 60 mph through and
below the canyons in the Kern County mountain and desert areas.
Blowing dust and sand may reduce visibility to around 1 mile.
Mountain obscuration in the Sierra due to clouds and precipitation
through 09z Wed.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.

&&

.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
an/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
High Wind Warning from noon today to 2 AM PDT Wednesday
CAZ195>199.

Wind Advisory from noon today to 2 AM PDT Wednesday
CAZ179.

&&

public...BSO
avn/fw...JDB
synopsis...BSO

weather.gov/hanford