High Wind in California, December 12, 2020

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
152 AM PST Sat Dec 12 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move through the region today, bringing gusty
winds through the wind-prone areas of Central California during
the day. Another disturbance is likely to pass through northern
California, though will bring additional light rain and high
elevation snow on Sunday. Dry conditions with mainly seasonal
temperatures return early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Band of light to moderate rain and higher elevation
snow is currently passing southward over the region at this time.
Precipitation amounts around 0.10 to 0.50 inch have already
accumulated, with the higher amounts towards Merced County.
Similar amounts have so far been reported in the Sierra Nevada
and adjacent foothills, with snow mainly around 7,000 feet
elevation and above. This band is moving at a decent speed, so we
are not concerned with very heavy precipitation. This system will
continue to bring additional rain and mountain snow through later
this morning and some precipitation on the westward facing slopes
in Kern County continuing into the afternoon hours. In addition,
expect winds to increase through the early morning hours, with
gusty winds to redevelop in the prone areas of eastern Kern
County. Thus, we have issued a wind advisory for these areas for
this morning into the afternoon hours.

The next system is forecast to arrive Sunday morning in our
northern areas and will bring chances for precipitation to Kern
County by late Sunday afternoon. This system will be similar in
trajectory as the current system, with the upper-level trough
moving as an inside-slider, although most of the moisture will
pass over northern portions of our forecast area, or Fresno
County northward. Moisture remains limited with this system, while
lesser amounts of precipitation are expected compared to the
current system. However, some portions of the Sierra Nevada,
including towards Yosemite to Kings Canyon mainly above 6,000
feet, may receive several inches of snow during much of Sunday.
Precipitation will taper off on Sunday evening as the upper-level
low and trough move eastward into the Great Basin. Some upslope
low clouds and light precipitation in the Kern County mountain
areas is possible again during the overnight hours on Sunday night
into Monday morning.

Dry conditions return by Monday with weak ridging over the Western
U.S. Some Tule fog is possible in the Central Valley, at least
for the early part of next week. Otherwise, expect chilly
overnight lows and near average daytime highs until the middle of
the week.

By Thursday, another low pressure system will bring unsettled
conditions once again. Models project yet another inside-slider
trough and will arrive over the Great Basin by early Friday.
Again, precipitation amounts will likely be fairly light. West to
northwest flow aloft could allow for more unsettled conditions
at least for Northern CA and the Pacific Northwest that may brush
northern portions of our area, such as Yosemite, into next
weekend. At least there is the potential for a more active pattern
to continue for some of our area.

&&

.AVIATION...
Areas of MVFR to local IFR visibilities due to ceilings/precipitation
with mountain obscurations until 18Z Saturday. Otherwise, VFR
conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours across the Central
CA Interior.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
On Saturday December 12 2020... Unhealthy for sensitive groups in
Fresno... Kern... Kings... Madera and Tulare Counties.
Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless
Registered in Kings... Merced and Tulare Counties. No Burning For
All in Fresno... Kern and Madera Counties.
Further information is available at Valleyair.org

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium.
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...
Wind Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 4 PM PST this afternoon
for CAZ195-196-198-199.

&&

Public/Aviation/Fire Wx...BSO
PIO/IDSS..................CMC

weather.gov/hanford