High Wind in California, January 9, 2020

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Hanford CA
540 PM PST Wed Jan 8 2020

Updated Air Quality Issues section

.SYNOPSIS...
An upper level system will bring a chance of rain and mountain snow
to the area on Thursday. Quiet conditions will prevail on Friday.
Then unsettled weather will return for the weekend into early next
week.

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.DISCUSSION...
IR imagery is showing an upper level shortwave that is now dropping
southeast through our CWFA. This system has caused the low cloud
deck over the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills to drizzle out
some and lift resulting in improving visibility over the valley
today. This system has also brought some high clouds to the
mountains and Kern County Deserts. Temperatures are trending higher
today by 2-3 degrees over much of the valley at this time and by
5-10 degrees over the higher elevations.

Another system is progged to drop southward through the area
during the day on Thursday and RH progs are indicating that this
system has more moisture with it than the system today. Have
increased POPs across the area for Thursday morning through early
afternoon as the system moves through. It is expected to depart
by late Thursday afternoon and evening. Latest QPF progs are
showing between a tenth and a quarter inch of liquid
precipitation from Fresno County northward and generally a tenth
of an inch or less further south. Snow levels are progged to run
between 4000 and 5000 feet on Thursday and there is a possibility
that some light snow might fall on the Tejon and Tehachapi passes
on Thursday afternoon.

SREF is indicating shortwave ridging moves in on Friday for drier
weather and seasonable temperatures. Fog and low clouds are
possible in the San Joaquin Valley again on Friday while mainly
clear skies will prevail over the higher elevations.

Another shortwave system is progged to push across Norcal on
Saturday and might brush Yosemite Park and Mariposa and Merced
Counties with some light precipitation. Further south it will
provide for some mid/high clouds and should mix out the atmosphere
enough to inhibit the presence of widespread fog.

The medium range models are in fair agreement through the middle
of next week and suggest our area might get clipped by a few
inside slider type systems that push into and through the PAC NW
and then drop into the Great Basin. This would provide for a
chance of mainly mountain precipitation and increased winds at
times below the passes in Kern County. The operational models and
ensemble means have been showing the potential for a strong storm
to impact our area toward the end of next week beyond the forecast
period. Stay tuned as we will have a better idea on the strength
and timing of this system as the time approaches.

&&

.AVIATION...
In the San Joaquin Valley, Kern County mountains and adjacent Sierra
foothills, mainly MVFR in low clouds and mist with areas of IFR in
low clouds and mist. LIFR conditions possible in fog between 06Z Thu
and 15Z Thu. In the Sierra Nevada, increasing areas of mountain
obscuring IFR in low clouds and precipitation after 09Z Thu becoming
widespread by 15Z Thu. Otherwise, VFR conditions will otherwise
prevail over the central CA interior during the next 24 hours.

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.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
On Thursday, January 9th, 2020, fireplace/wood stove burning status
is: no burning unless registered in Fresno and Kern Counties.
Further information is available at Valleyair.org.

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.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 and/or
to provide feedback.

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.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

Freezing Fog Advisory until 10 AM PST Thursday morning for CAZ196.

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aviation....DS

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