Wheeler Ridge, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

551
FXUS66 KHNX 260613
AFDHNX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1113 PM PDT Wed Mar 25 2026


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.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Temperatures will remain above average through the weekend.

2. Gusty winds tonight through early Thursday morning along the
Mojave Desert slopes and through the weekend.

3. Practice cold water safety, as waterways will be running
cold and fast over the next several days.

4. Confidence is increasing regarding Sierra Nevada
precipitation by Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A slight cooldown is in store for Thursday as the upper level
synoptic pattern shifts towards zonal flow, however prevailing
flow will quickly shift to the southwest, creating another
warmup into the weekend. Ensemble guidance from the NBM
expresses an 80 to 90 percent probability for temperatures to
rise above 85 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday.
Beforehand, this evening into Thursday morning, a small
localized area of low pressure is expected to push through
southern California and into portions of the southern San
Joaquin Valley, resulting in stronger wind gusts particularly
along the Mojave Desert Slopes as southerly winds move
cyclonically around the system.

Confidence is growing in a pattern change for next week,
caused by a longwave trough pushing into the western US late
Monday into early Tuesday morning. THe highlight from this
pattern change is the return of precipiation to portions of the
valley areas and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada. Over a 24 hour
period ending next Wednesday at 5 AM, there is a 40 to 50
percent probability for the northern San Joaquin Valley to
recieve 0.1" of rainfall, with a 30 to 40 percent probability
for the southern San Joaquin Valley. Over the same time frame,
there is a 50 to 60 percent probability for at least 2 inches of
snowfall in the Sierra Nevada with snow levels projected between
7500-8000 feet.



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AVIATION...
VFR conditions will prevail for central California over the next
24 hours.

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.FIRE WEATHER...
A drop in temperatures is expected for Thursday before temps
rise with a warming trend into the weekend. RH values will rise,
then fall again as a result, curing fine fuels across the
region. 100- and 1000- hour fuels will continue to trend drier
but remaining below critical thresholds for this time of year.
No precipitation is expected through the weekend.

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.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.


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.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
and/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 5 AM PDT Thursday for CAZ338.
&&

$$

public/aviation...McCoy

weather.gov/hanford