High Wind in California, February 15 to 16, 2021

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
343 PM PST Mon Feb 15 2021

.UPDATE...Updated for air quality section.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Scattered light precipitation, especially for the higher
elevations, will continue through Tuesday as a weak disturbance
moves through the region. Breezy to gusty winds will accompany
this system, with the stronger winds over the Kern county
mountains and desert this afternoon through Tuesday and in the
western part of the San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday afternoon.
Otherwise, dry weather can be expected over much of the region
this week. High temperatures will be slightly cooler than normal
through Wednesday, then warm to seasonable levels Thursday.
Another disturbance looks to move into the region and bring
increased chances of precipitation for mainly the northern
portions of the forecast area by the end of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Light scattered showers and increased clouds, these clouds have
created lowered visibilities in the upslope areas of the Kern
County Mountains in the northerly flow associated with a
disturbance. A dense fog advisory was issued through 6 PM tonight
to address this issue. This system is moving southward into the
Great Basin along the western periphery of the strong trough over
the central U.S. that has brought arctic air well south into the
far southern half of the CONUS. Amazingly, light snow was being
reported in Brownsville, Texas. Yes you read that right. The
arctic air has wreaked havoc on the south with cold, snow, and
ice. Many roads were considered impassable since many of the
locations lack the equipment to deal with this anomalously cold
and icy conditions. Closer to home, many areas across the San
Joaquin Valley are seeing temperatures warming to the mid and upper
50s, temperatures I am sure many people in the midwest are
currently jealous of.

This inside slider disturbance coming from the Pacific Northwest
will skirt the area and continue to bring increased chances of
light precipitation, especially in the higher elevations, along
with breezy to gusty conditions. The stronger winds will mainly be
over the Kern County Mountains below and through the pass areas
into the desert tonight through tomorrow evening, gusts up to 55
mph will be possible. Winds will also be gusty on the western
coastal hills and far western sections of the SJV along the base
of the coastal hills beginning tomorrow afternoon and through
tomorrow evening, gusts up to 35 mph will be possible in those
areas. Wind advisories are in place to highlight these wind
threats.

Upper level ridging will begin to move into the region Tuesday
night and temperatures will trend warmer through Friday. By Friday
evening, another inside slider will skirt the northern parts of
the CWA and precipitation looks to once again be on the light
side and will mainly affect the higher elevations Fresno County
northward. At this time no tropical moisture appears to be
connected with this system and this will limit the moisture
available to the system. Stronger ridging looks to move into the
west coast late in the weekend and this will bring above normal
temperatures to the area, upper 60s to even low 70s in the SJV
look to be a good bet next week. Then we can really rub it in for
the folks back east.

&&

.AVIATION...
Areas of MVFR with local mountain obscuring IFR conditions will
continue through 06z Wednesday. Winds in excess of 35 knots
through and below the mountain passes of Kern county after 21z
Monday through 06z Wednesday. Otherwise, VFR conditions will
prevail over the central California interior during the next 24
hours.

&&

.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...
Wind Advisory from noon to 7 PM PST Tuesday for CAZ179-180-182-
183-186-187.

Dense Fog Advisory until 6 PM PST this evening for CAZ196-197.

Wind Advisory until 7 PM PST Tuesday for CAZ195>199.

&&

public...Andersen
aviation....Durfee

weather.gov/hanford