High Wind in California, January 13, 2020

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
351 PM PST Sun Jan 12 2020

...Updated Air Quality Section...

.SYNOPSIS...
A couple weak systems to the north may bring some light showers
to mainly the Yosemite area tonight and again Monday night into
Tuesday. A strong storm system will bring widespread precipitation
to the central California interior on Thursday. Night and morning
fog will affect parts of the San Joaquin Valley and may become
dense at times through midweek.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
After a few patches of dense fog across the San Joaquin Valley
this morning, visibilities have improved to 10 miles or greater at
all airport observation sites. Satellite imagery is showing some
stratus clouds still banked up along the Sierra foothills due to
residual moisture and northwesterly flow. Plenty of stratocumulus
have formed over the southern end of the SJ Valley in Kern County
as well. Also noted on satellite is a shield of mid/high clouds
spreading down from the north.

Should see fog development in the SJ Valley the next few nights;
but lots of uncertainty regarding when, where, and how dense. A
weak trough moving over the Pacific Northwest may bring a light
shower or two to the Yosemite area tonight, but it is more likely
to remain dry. Another weak trough moves over the PacNW on Monday
night through Tuesday. While the models have trended weaker with
this system for our area, there is still a chance for some light
precipitation, mainly around Yosemite NP.

A strong trough of low pressure is expected to dive down from the
northeast Pacific on Wednesday night and move through central CA
on Thursday. Models have shown good agreement with this system for
several runs, therefore confidence is increasing in a widespread
precipitation event on Thursday. Latest QPF gives 1-2" liquid over
the Sierra Nevada with 0.25" to 0.75" for the Kern County Mountains.
Snow levels look to begin around 4000 feet then lower to around
3000 feet. 1-2 feet of snowfall is possible over the Sierra, with
the higher amounts likely occurring from Yosemite to Kings Canyon.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from late
Wednesday night through late Thursday night. There is also a good
chance for accumulating snowfall down to the major pass levels in
Kern County. Rainfall for the SJ Valley looks to range from 0.25"
to 0.50", with the higher amounts likely from Fresno County north
and along the eastern side of the valley. The Kern County Desert
will experience some rain shadowing as usual, but could still see
around 0.10" to 0.20". Gusty winds will develop on Thursday too,
strongest through and below the Kern County mountain passes.

Short wave ridge builds in on Friday for a return to dry weather
through next weekend. The added ground moisture should set the
sage for more Tule Fog development in the SJ Valley. Temperatures
will hover close to climatological normals for mid January.

&&

.AVIATION...
Areas of MVFR ceilings along the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada
and the north facing slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains through
19z Monday. In the San Joaquin Valley, areas of IFR with local
LIFR are possible due to fog from 06z-18z Monday. VFR conditions
will prevail elsewhere over the Central California Interior during
the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
On Monday January 13 2020...Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is:
No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno...Kern and Madera Counties.
Further information is available at Valleyair.org

&&

.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...
Winter Storm Watch from late Wednesday night through late
Thursday night for CAZ192>195.

&&

public...DCH
aviation....DCH

weather.gov/hanford