The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a warning for residents of the Central Valley and Delta regions to prepare for strong winds starting today and continuing into midweek. According to the NWS Sacramento forecast, wind gusts could reach up to 45 mph in the Delta and 40 mph in parts of the Central Valley today and tomorrow. A Wind Advisory is in effect, with the strongest gusts expected between 8 AM and 12 PM PST.
It’s not just the winds causing concern. By midweek, an uptick in fire weather conditions is expected. While today through Tuesday may not pose a significant threat due to recent rainfall and cool temperatures, Wednesday presents a different risk. As per the forecast discussion, a low-pressure system moving down from the northwest could create ideal conditions for wildfires to form and spread, so residents should be prepared and stay alert. The dry and windy weather may lead to significant fire dangers, particularly in the Delta region, where fuels could dry enough to ignite quickly if sparks occur.
Travel could become tricky, not just for those on the road but also in the sky. VFR conditions are expected over the region for the next 24 hours, save for isolated pockets of reduced visibility. But in the Central Valley and Delta, expect surface winds between 15-25 knots with gusts to 30-40 knots, as stated by the NWS Sacramento. Meanwhile, the mountains and foothills could see northeast surface wind gusts climbing to 30-40 knots after 6 PM today.
Looking beyond this gusty episode, the forecast for the weekend brings a mixed outlook. Ridging over the Pacific may extend over Northern California, offering a brief break from the winds early Thursday and lighter winds into Friday. However, the models are not fully aligned for the weekend. The European model suggests we could remain under the ridge, while the GFS model points to a shortwave trough and a deeper system arriving by Sunday. With the National Blend of Models trending toward troughing, expect temperatures near or slightly below seasonal norms, with only a slim chance of precipitation over the weekend.
