Scientific Forecaster Discussion

NWS Discussion
			
				

Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford California 
220 PM PDT Monday may 20 2013 


Synopsis... 
high pressure building over central California will bring above 
normal temperatures and mainly clear skies. An area of low pressure 
will strengthen onshore flow...bringing cooler temperatures and a 
few clouds to central California Wednesday and Thursday. 


&& 


Discussion... 
satellite loops show clear skies across the central California 
interior this afternoon as an offshore upper-level ridge remains in 
control of the region/S weather. At 20z /1300 PDT/ this afternoon... 
temperatures across the central and southern San Joaquin Valley were 
mostly in the middle 80s...and were running as much as 9 degrees ahead 
of 20z Sunday. Temperatures in the central and southern San Joaquin 
Valley were on track to peak in the lower to middle 90s. 


Satellite loops show an upper-level low near 47n/130w...west of 
Vancouver Island...with a trough digging south to 33 north. This low is 
forecast to drop south overnight...and will be west of the Washington 
coast by 18z /1100 PDT/ Tuesday with the trough pivoting into 
northern California. The low is then forecast to move onshore near 
the Washington/Oregon border between 06-12z Wednesday /2300 PDT 
Tuesday-0500 PDT Wednesday/ with the trough digging into central 
California. As the trough digs south...it will deepen the marine 
layer and marine air could spill through the passes and canyons of 
the temblors and Diablo Range...resulting in breezy conditions along 
the west side of the San Joaquin Valley with areas of blowing dust 
possible. 


The models are in agreement with strong cooling at 850 mb Wednesday. 
850-mb temperatures over Fresno are forecast to drop from 18 c this 
afternoon to 8-9 c by 18z /1100 PDT/ Wednesday. Highs Wednesday are 
not expected to warm above the middle to upper 70s in the central and 
southern San Joaquin Valley...and Thursday likely will be a couple 
of degrees cooler. 


As the trough axis moves through the Hanford warning/forecast area 
Wednesday afternoon/evening...the northwest flow aloft will align 
with some of the passes and canyons of the Kern County mountains. 
The winds aloft will funnel through these passes and canyons...with 
gusts of 35-45 miles per hour in the Kern deserts below these favored sites. 
Areas of blowing dust and sand will be likely...especially along 
Highway 58 from the Tehachapi Pass through Mojave and on Highway 14 
from Mojave to Red Rock Canyon. 


Although the trough axis is forecast to be east of the region 
Friday...the European model (ecmwf) forecasts a short-wave to rotate around the low 
is forecast and swing onto the California coast Friday night. Both 
the European model (ecmwf) and GFS forecast a stronger trough to reach the California 
coast Saturday afternoon/evening...keeping temperatures a few 
degrees below normal through the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. 


The GFS brings some quantitative precipitation forecast to the southern Sierra Nevada for Memorial 
Day with both the European model (ecmwf) and GFS having a few hundredths quantitative precipitation forecast over the 
southern Sierra Nevada Tuesday. Have penciled in ghost probability of precipitation for the 
southern Sierra Nevada toward the end of the extended forecast 
period. /Tuesday would be day 8...beyond the current forecast 
period./ 


&& 


Aviation... 
VFR conditions will prevail across the central California interior. 


&& 


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. 


This information is provided as part of a trial project conducted 
by the National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford. 
Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit 
www.Weather.Gov/hnx/certainty.Php /all lower case/ for additional 
information and/or to provide feedback. 


&& 


Climate... 
records 
site date hi_max:year lo_max:year hi_min:year lo_min:year 


Kfat 05-20 102:1947 61:1921 71:1897 44:1962 
kfat 05-21 104:1892 56:1933 69:2001 42:1975 
kfat 05-22 104:1967 67:2010 71:1892 43:1909 


Kbfl 05-20 103:1942 65:1923 70:2001 42:1902 
kbfl 05-21 103:1988 65:1903 71:2001 42:1902 
kbfl 05-22 102:2001 68:2010 73:1967 36:1903 


&& 


Hnx watches/warnings/advisories... 
none. 


&& 


$$ 


Public...Sanger 
AVN/fw...bean 
synopsis...pj 


Weather.Gov/Hanford