462
FXUS66 KHNX 231645
AFDHNX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
945 AM PDT SAT MAY 23 2026
KEY MESSAGES
1. DRY CONDITIONS WILL ALLOW THE FIRE WEATHER RISK TO REMAIN IN
PLACE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK.
2. PRACTICE SAFETY AROUND LAKES, RIVERS, AND STREAMS, AS WATER
IS STILL RUNNING COLD.
3. OMEGA BLOCK PATTERN WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES PLEASANT BUT ALLOW
FOR DRY LIGHTNING CHANCES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL DAYS.
DISCUSSION
WARM CONDITIONS TODAY, WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 80S
TO MID 90S ACROSS THE VALLEY. DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE, WITH
MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 15-20% ACROSS
THE VALLEY TODAY. SIMILAR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW.
THERE IS A 5-10% CHANCE OF LIGHTNING ALONG THE SIERRA CREST AND
EASTWARD TODAY, INCREASING TO 15-25% TOMORROW, WITH A 5-10%
CHANCE IN THE FOOTHILLS. THERE IS A 40-60% CHANCE OF GUSTS
EXCEEDING 40 MPH ALONG THE MOJAVE DESERT SLOPES OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT.
LOOKING AHEAD, CONFIDENCE IS STRONG THAT AN OMEGA BLOCK PATTERN
WILL SET UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS THAT HAPPENS, A LOW PRESSURE
WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD DOWN THE WEST COAST AND STALL OUT OVER THE
AREA. THIS WILL MODERATE TEMPERATURES, KEEPING HIGHS IN THE
UPPER 70S TO UPPER 80S AS IT ARRIVES ON TUESDAY. HOWEVER, THIS
WILL ALSO BRING BROADLY NORTHERLY FLOW, WHICH WILL DRAW VERY DRY
CONTINENTAL POLAR AIR SOUTHWARD INTO THE AREA. THIS WILL CREATE
ANOMALOUSLY DRY CONDITIONS AS WE MOVE INTO THE MID-WEEK.
WHEN WE ALSO CONSIDER THE INCREASED WIND AND THE THREAT OF
LIGHTNING, SOME DRY, THE FIRE RISK WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY
ACROSS THE WEEK, PARTICULARLY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE RISK
WILL BE MOST CONCENTRATED IN EASTERN TULARE AND KERN COUNTIES,
THOUGH ALL AREAS SHOULD BE WARY GIVEN ABNORMALLY DRY FUELS AND
ABNORMALLY HIGH ENERGY RELEASE COMPONENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE
AREA.
DESPITE WARMER TEMPERATURES, LAKES, RIVERS, AND STREAMS ARE
STILL RUNNING QUITE COLD. PRACTICE COLD WATER SAFETY AT ALL
TIMES.
AVIATION
VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILING ACROSS INTERIOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOR THE
NEXT 24 HOURS.
AIR QUALITY ISSUES
MODERATE PM2.5 AND MODERATE-HIGH OZONE CONCENTRATIONS WILL
CREATE CONDITIONS UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS.
CERTAINTY
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS HIGH.
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS HIGH.
CERTAINTY LEVELS INCLUDE LOW...MEDIUM...AND HIGH. PLEASE VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HNX/CERTAINTY.HTML FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND/OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NONE.
PUBLIC...AC
AVIATION....AC
WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
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