High Wind and Strong Wind in California, February 8 to 10, 2020

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
430 PM PST Sat Feb 8 2020

...UPDATE TO AIR QUALITY SECTION...

.SYNOPSIS...A disturbance will move through the district early
Sunday morning through Monday bringing strong winds across the
Sierra Nevada and throughout Kern County. There is also a chance
for light snow over the mountains during Sunday into Monday. Dry
weather returns to the forecast area Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION... The main weather concerns are expected Sunday
morning through Monday due to an approaching upper-level low and
associated trough. Gusty winds will be the main concern for
portions of the Sierra Nevada and the Kern County desert,
although light precipitation is possible over mainly the mountain
areas. Otherwise, expect dry, relatively warm weather today and
again by Tuesday and much of next week. Latest satellite data show
the low pressure trough over the Pacific Northwest at this time,
while high pressure remains in control. However, the high pressure
will move to just off the CA coast as the low moves over Central
California during Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday morning, expect northeast (Mono) winds to increase over
the central Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite and nearby areas to
the south. The strongest gusts are expected Sunday afternoon into
the evening in this portion of the Sierra. As for the Kern County
desert, expect the strongest gusts mainly on Sunday evening into
early Monday morning. Gusts in these areas are expected to reach
around 45 to 50 miles per hour, except for some stronger gusts at
times over the ridge tops in the Sierra and along the crest.
Impacts include, but are not necessarily limited to, fallen trees,
including in the Sierra where areas of tree mortality remain, as
well as some large branches and challenges to drivers of high
profile vehicles. Gusty northeast winds are also possible at
times over the southern Sierra Nevada, Kern County mountains,
including the far southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains and
towards the Grapevine as the low passes south towards Southern
California and along the coast, although we're not expecting
widespread advisory level winds (or gusts reaching or exceeding 45
miles per hour) in these portions of our forecast area. Winds are
expected to gradually decrease during the daytime hours on
Monday. The upper low begins as an inside-slider over the Sierra
late tonight and early Sunday morning and moves southward during
the day on Sunday and eventually off the coast of Southern
California by the evening hours. The low is projected to move a
bit further south during Monday, or towards northern Baja
California. Precipitation will be minimal with this system as the
low passes over Central California; however, it may be enough to
cause travel impacts over the Grapevine on Sunday afternoon and
evening where a dusting up to an inch of snow could accumulate.

The upper low is forecast to pass over southwestern AZ by Monday
night, while high pressure builds back inland over California and
into the Pacific Northwest. Thus, dry and calm weather will return
for at least the middle part of next week. The latest runs of the
Euro and GFS models show considerable disagreement by Thursday,
and the Euro brings another low pressure system into the forecast
area by Friday while the GFS shows a weak upper-level shortwave.
Forecast confidence beyond the middle of next week lowers a bit,
and a dry forecast continues until at least Thursday. We have a
slight chance for precipitation over the Sierra for Friday,
although this looks even less likely. So, dry weather could
persist through next Saturday.

&&

.AVIATION...VFR conditions will prevail across the central CA
interior through at least the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
On Sunday February 9 2020...Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is:
No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno 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 10 AM Sunday to 10 AM PST Monday for CAZ192.

Wind Advisory from 1 PM Sunday to 10 AM PST Monday for CAZ198-
199.

&&

public/aviation/fw...BSO
IDSS/PIO..........Dudley

weather.gov/hanford