744 FXUS66 KHNX 301922 AFDHNX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1222 PM PDT Sun Aug 30 2020 .SYNOPSIS...Dry weather is expected to continue over the central California interior for the next several days with above average temperatures. Excessive heat could return to the San Joaquin Valley, lower foothills and the Kern County desert by Labor Day weekend. && .DISCUSSION...Warm and dry weather will prevail this week with even hotter temperatures by Labor Day weekend. Overnight lows were a bit cooler in some locations this morning, although these will trend upward over the next couple of days and more noticeably by the end of the week. Per latest water vapor satellite imagery, the baggy upper-level trough is currently centered off the coast of Southern CA and will move southwestward further off the coast over the next couple of days. Temperatures have also trended about 2-4 degrees lower, compared to this time yesterday, although highs may still reach the century mark at the warmest locations. Flow aloft will be generally southwesterly until Tuesday, which will mean a dry pattern. There may be some cumulus cloud buildups each afternoon over the Sierra Nevada crest, but otherwise expect clear skies. High temperatures will remain several degrees above average for early this week and nudge to around 10 degrees above average by the middle of the week as high pressure begins to build from the Pacific Northwest & eastern Pacific Ocean. On Wednesday though Friday, a gradual warmup is in store, while temperatures remain around 10 degrees above average and perhaps a touch warmer, as the ridging keeps building over the region. In addition, the flow aloft could turn more easterly due to the center of the ridge moving over the Great Basin. If so, the smoke from nearby wildfires could pose challenges and may mitigate some of the warming, at least temporarily. Daytime humidity will trend lower each day, and overnight recoveries could become progressively poor over the mountains and foothills. Widespread triple digit heat is likely in the Central Valley, lower Sierra Nevada foothills, West Side Hills, and the Kern County desert for this period. Flow will turn more southerly as the upper-level ridge develops and expands further inland during late in the week into the upcoming holiday weekend. However, there will be a lack of moisture over much the Desert Southwest by this time and even the middle part of the week. For Labor Day Weekend, models continue to agree, though with some minor differences, that a strong ridging pattern will continue to build over much of California. Record highs could be challenged at least in the lower elevations, such as the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County desert, and excessive heat remains likely. Overnight lows may be rather warm during this period, although details will become more clear as we get closer. Until this ridge breaks down, we will likely experience yet another extended period with triple digit high temperatures at many locations. && .AVIATION... Areas of MVFR visibilities due to haze and smoke can be expected in the San Joaquin Valley during the next 24 hours. Locally poor visibilities due to wildfire smoke will linger mainly over the Tulare County mountains. VFR conditions will prevail elsewhere over the central California interior during the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Sunday August 30 2020... Unhealthy for sensitive groups in Fresno... Kern... Kings... Merced and Tulare Counties and Sequoia National Park and Forest. Further information is available at Valleyair.org && .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 an/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ Public/Aviation/Fire Wx...BSO PIO/IDSS...................BS weather.gov/hanford