Dense Fog in California, January 5, 2021

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
407 AM PST Tue Jan 5 2021

.SYNOPSIS...Calm, dry weather with areas of morning fog are
possible today through Thursday. Another weak storm system will
track through northern California later this week and bring a
slight chance of precipitation to Yosemite National Park on
Friday. Otherwise, much of this week will be dry with slightly
above normal temperatures. Dense fog may become an issue in the
valley each for the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Current satellite imagery is showing mostly clear
skies across the Central California interior this early Tuesday
morning. The main exception to this is toward the south end of
the valley (Kings, Tulare) and into Kern County, where stratus
has banked up against the Tehachapi's with the northwest flow
aloft. This has reduced visibilities in the town of Tehachapi and
along highway 58 westward to Bakersfield. A Dense Fog Advisory
will be in effect until 9 AM PST for this area for visibilities of
one quarter mile or less.

In other areas of the SJV, fog development is still possible by
daybreak in Merced and Madera counties. This is because there are
weaker winds in the lower atmosphere and thus less mixing as
indicated by the RAP13. The HRRR is also picking up on fog
development in these areas by daybreak. Elsewhere in the valley,
the low level stratus and mixing may still be too strong and will
prevent widespread dense fog this morning. Stratus and fog will
burn away by the afternoon, giving way to a very pleasant day of
slightly above average temperatures in the region.

There is a better chance of fog development in the valley on
Wednesday and Thursday mornings due to calmer winds and ample low
level moisture. By Friday, a trough of low pressure will move into
the PacNW. The best dynamics, and subsequent precipitation with
this Friday system will remain well to our north. But, there is a
slight chance of precipitation in the Sierra toward Yosemite. For
the weekend into the start of next week, ridging builds back into
the western U.S. This will dry us out and also increase the
chances of fog in the valley.

&&

.AVIATION...Areas of MVFR with local IFR in fog and mountain
obscurations can be expected in the Tehachapi mountains until
around 16Z. MVFR and local IFR in low ceilings and visibilities
are possible in the San Joaquin Valley through 18Z. Otherwise,
VFR conditions will prevail elsewhere over the central California
interior during the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
On Tuesday January 5 2021... Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status
is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno... Kern... Kings...
Madera... Merced and Tulare 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...
Dense Fog Advisory until 9 AM PST this morning for CAZ196.

&&

public...CMC
aviation....Molina

weather.gov/hanford