697 
fxus66 khnx 211057 
afdhnx 


Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford California 
257 am PST Sat Nov 21 2009 


Synopsis... 


A cold front will move east of the area today with high pressure 
building into central California for much of the upcoming week. 
Expect dry and warming weather conditions into Thanksgiving day. 


&& 


Discussion...initial frontal boundary has pushed well into Kern 
County and a expected the precipitation was rather light. Radar 
does continue to show some northward bound echoes from Fresno 
north into Yosemite and this scenario is most likely caused by a 
secondary shortwave trough now pushing rapidly across northern 
California. In the very fast flow across northern California, 
forecast models race yet another short wave across the north state 
tonight however this feature should pass well to the north of the 
Hanford forecast area. For the next several hours the isolated 
rain and snow showers over the east San Joaquin Valley and the 
Sierra will continue and then decline by sunrise. Meanwhile, over 
Kern County the upslope flow will wring out some precipitation 
along the Tehachapi and Grapevine area mountains. Beginning later 
Sunday a ridge of high pressure is projected by all models to 
build over California and this will quite effectively push the 
storm track well north into the Pacific northwest. Through 
Wednesday good agreement remains between the GFS and European model (ecmwf) models 
in keeping the ridge in place however on Thanksgiving, the European model (ecmwf) 
breaks down the ridge and drives a shortwave trough into northern 
California while the GFS keeps the strong anticylone in place. For 
central California it will be dry either way into the weekend. At 
this point I don't see any travel problems for the big 
Thanksgiving travel period outside of morning fog in the San 
Joaquin Valley. Will need to watch just if and how widespread the 
fog might get under a ridge in late November. && 


Aviation... 
areas of MVFR ceilings in showers across the San Joaquin Valley and 
adjacent foothills through mid-morning. Expect some IFR conditions 
over the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi range due to areas of 
precipitation and low ceilings. Across the deserts...VFR conditions 
will prevail this morning. 


&& 


Air quality issues... 
none 


&& 


Hnx watches/warnings/advisories... 
none. 
&& 


$$ 


Public...Dudley 
AVN/fw...Molina 


Weather.Gov/Hanford