August 14, 2018 – Not as hot through mid-week. Highs trend upwards late this week reaching around 5-10 degrees above average by the weekend. Smoke impacts from wildfires may increase again this week.
Discussion
Clear skies across the region early this morning except for a few clouds lifting up from the south ahead of a weak vort presently over SoCal. The marine layer is around 1500 ft deep and stratus is extending further inland than early Monday. Current temperatures are mostly a little cooler compared to 24 hours ago and range from the mid 40s in the cooler mountain valleys to the upper 50s to around 70 across the Central Valley. Not a whole lot of change in the weather is expected across interior NorCal the next several days as the region remains between a weak trough off the coast and strong high pressure over the Southwest. A few showers or thunderstorms will be possible over the northern Sierra today into this evening as the vort lifts to the north, but the main threat is expected to be east of the crest. Temperatures will remain seasonably hot. The Delta Breeze will continue to moderate temperatures into the Sacramento region. High pressure forecast to strengthen toward the end of the weak as the trough finally lifts out. This will result in a warming trend heading into the weekend.
Extended discussion (Saturday through Tuesday)
Upper ridging moves through Interior NorCal over the weekend with high temperatures warming to about 4 to 7 degrees above normal. Upper low then progged to move across Oregon Monday into Tuesday with associated upper troughing over the CWA. This will result in minor cooling with increased onshore flow. Highs remain several degrees above normal with breezy conditions expected in the Delta and over higher terrain in the afternoon into evening hours. Dry weather persists through the extended forecast period.