March 14, 2019 – Dry weather into early next week with breezy north to east wind lingering today in the Sacramento Valley and northern Sierra Nevada. Precipitation chances return by the middle of next week.
Discussion
Clear skies cover the region early this morning. North to south surface pressure gradients have slackened, but easterly surface gradients have increased since Wednesday. Surface observations report some local gusts of 20-40 mph in the Coast Range and northern Sierra.
Breezy conditions will linger this morning in the Sacramento Valley, Coast Range and northern Sierra, before decreasing this afternoon as gradients slacken.
Dry weather and milder temperatures expected through the weekend as ridge moves onshore. Some increase in cloudiness is expected later today into Friday as a system weakens moving into the ridge.
Extended Discussion (Monday through Thursday)
Dry weather Monday and Tuesday as upper ridge axis shifts through the area and closed low approaches. EC is faster with progression of closed low, spreading precip over the area Wednesday morning while GFS begins precip over higher terrain Wednesday afternoon. By Wednesday night through Thursday, widespread light to moderate precip depicted over most of the CWA. High temperatures cool from about 10 degrees above normal Monday to near normal by Thursday.