High Wind in California, May 18 to 19, 2021

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
200 PM PDT Tue May 18 2021

.SYNOPSIS...A storm system will bring blustery, unseasonably
cool weather to the district during the next few days. Strong
and gusty winds will frequent the Kern county mountains and
desert and the west side of the San Joaquin Valley through
Thursday evening. The storm will also bring a chance of showers
and thunderstorms to the Sierra from late Thursday through
Saturday with the possibility of a few inches of snow above
6,000 feet.

&&

.DISCUSSION...This afternoon's sunny, pleasant weather is
courtesy of a weak ridge of high pressure that is positioned
over central and southern California. The ridge will be shoved
into Mexico during the next 24 hours by a storm system that is
currently centered near Vancouver. Considering that its origins
were in the Gulf of Alaska, this storm is going to usher an
unseasonably cool air mass into the central California interior
this week and be delivered by blustery west to northwest winds.
Although this storm is still a good distance away, the already
robust onshore flow across the district has increased since
this morning. That strengthening trend will continue during the
next 24 to 36 hours as the storm tracks toward central California.

The next couple of afternoons and evenings will be downright
windy through and below the passes as a result. Wind gusts of up
to 35 or 40 mph are possible on the west side of the San Joaquin
Valley during mid to late week and could peak above 70 mph below
the Kern county mountain passes. In addition to posing a hazard
for motorists, the winds could also produce areas of blowing dust
which of course could be a problem for those with respiratory
ailments. This storm will also bring some showers and a slight
chance of thunderstorms to the Sierra from late Thursday through
Saturday mainly north of Kings Canyon.  While any precipitation
would be beneficial, it won't be a drought buster in the Sierra.
Nonetheless, up to a half inch of precipitation could fall over
the higher elevations of the Sierra by the end of this week. The
air will be cold enough for precipitation to fall as snow above
about 6,000 feet. The luckiest locations above that elevation
could pick up a few inches of the white stuff by the end of this
week. Hikers and backpackers over the high Sierra should be
prepared for an abrupt change to wintry, colder weather from late
Thursday through Friday night. In the San Joaquin Valley,
afternoon temperatures will be no higher than the mid 70s
Thursday and Friday. Thermometer readings could bottom out in the
low to mid 40s in the chilliest valley locations during this
period.

A warming trend will begin Saturday and continue into early next
week as the storm system exits into the northern Rockies and a
weak upper level ridge of high pressure gradually builds in
behind it over California. High temperatures should bounce back to
seasonable levels Sunday, then warm to slightly above normal on
days 6 and 7. Normal highs in the San Joaquin Valley at this time
of year are in the low to mid 80s.

&&

.AVIATION...
Wind gusts of 35 knots or greater can be expected through and
below the Kern County mountain passes for at least the next 24
hours. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail over the central
California interior through 00z Thursday.

&&

.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...
High Wind Warning until 6 AM PDT Wednesday for CAZ196>199.

&&

synopsis...Durfee
public/aviation/fw...Durfee
PIO/IDSS...BS

weather.gov/hanford