Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
242 FXUS66 KSTO 210745 AFDSTO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 1245 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Warm and dry weather with periodically breezy north winds this week. Minor cooling this weekend before warming returns next week. && .DISCUSSION... Skies remain clear across the region. Northerly surface gradient remains in place (MFR-SAC still around 10 mbs) and easterly gradient has begun to increase with the RNO-SAC gradient now over 4 mbs. Locally breezy north winds of 15-25 mph continue across portions of the Sacramento Valley while local northeast to east wind gusts of 25-35 mph are present in the Sierra. Northerly winds will remain breezy today, but lighter than Monday, and will decrease by late-afternoon. Weak short-wave ridging embedded in the larger-scale trough will lead to minor warming today into Wednesday before another system passes to the north late Wednesday into Thursday. Showers with that feature are forecast to remain to the north and east of the region, but it will lead to minor cooling late in the week and another round of breezy north winds Thursday as pressure gradient tighten`s in its wake. && .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Saturday THROUGH Tuesday)... Weak trough with northwest flow aloft forecast across the region over the weekend resulting in minor cooling with temperatures at or a little below average. Warming is then forecast early next week as high pressure builds over the western US. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions next 24 hours. Areas of northerly surface wind gusts 15-20 kts in the Central Valley 18Z until about 00Z Wednesday, otherwise mainly less than 12 kts. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$