May 8, 2022 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a Wind Advisory is in effect for Yosemite National Park until 11:00 P.M. this evening.
The most intense wind gusts are expected above 8,000 feet.
Strong wind gusts may topple trees, especially those that are dead or weakened by drought or fire.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 321 AM PDT Sun May 8 2022 .SYNOPSIS... The district will experience well below average temperatures through Wednesday along with chances of precipitation in the Sierra each day. Periods of very strong winds will occur in the Kern County mountains and desert, and higher elevations of the Sierra through Monday. Dry weather will return on Thursday with a warming trend expected to increase temperatures into the 90s across the San Joaquin Valley next weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Cool and breezy conditions prevail across the San Joaquin Valley tonight with 24 hour trends indicating temperatures are around 10 degrees lower than this time last night. Stronger wind gusts are occurring in the Kern County mountains and into the desert. The cause is a strong onshore pressure gradient that is holding at around 17mb from SFO-LAS for the last few hours. The gradient is expected to tighten a bit more today as additional energy deepens the trough over the region. A High Wind Warning is now in effect for the Mojave Desert Slopes and the Indian Wells Valley through 9 AM Monday with gusts up to 75 mph expected. A Wind Advisory is still in effect for the remainder of the desert in Kern County as well as the southern end of the Sierra and the Tehachapi Mountains through 9 AM Monday. There also is a Wind Advisory for Yosemite NP outside of the valley from 7 AM this morning to 11 PM this evening. Further cooling will result in temperatures around 70 degrees for most of the SJ Valley today, around 10 to 12 degrees below average for this time of year. Hi-res models show some light precipitation possible over the Sierra this afternoon and evening, mainly around Yosemite NP but as far south as Kings Canyon NP. Rainfall amounts up to one quarter of an inch are possible around Yosemite NP with 1 to 3 inches of snow possible above 5000 feet. The trough will deepen further over the west on Monday resulting in a little more cooling. Maximum temperatures are forecast to be around 15 degrees below average on Monday and Tuesday with highs only in the middle to upper 60s across the SJ Valley. Winds will remain breezy with moderately strong gusts in the Kern mountains and desert. There is a slight chance for light precipitation for the Yosemite NP area on Monday then a better chance develops on Tuesday and Wednesday from Yosemite to Sequoia NP. Ensembles show good agreement with the trough finally exiting to the east on Thursday with high pressure progged to build in from the Pacific. Dry weather, lighter winds, and a warming trend are forecast from Thursday through next weekend. High temperatures are forecast to be back near normal by Friday then above normal next weekend. && .AVIATION... Strong surface winds over 35 knots across the Sierra Nevada and the Kern County mountains and desert during the next 24 hours. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail throughout the Central CA Interior for at least the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... None.Source: NWS
