August 15, 2016 – Warm and mainly dry weather continues this week. Periods of isolated mountain thunderstorms possible this week.
Discussion
Clear skies across interior NorCal as yesterday’s short-wave and it’s associated cloudiness has shifted into Nevada. The marine layer has deepened slightly, and onshore gradients have picked up a bit resulting in cooler temperatures early this morning through the Delta and into the Sacramento region. Elsewhere, temperatures are running pretty similar to 24 hours ago.
More hot weather is on tap across the area this week with triple digit heat through most of the Central Valley. The Sacramento area may see a brief respite today with the Delta Breeze returning, but it will likely be back to a trickle by Tuesday.
Another vort evident on satellite imagery around 40N/135W is forecast to move into NorCal on Tuesday and then hang out in the vicinity through mid-week. Enough moisture and instability may accompany this feature for a few late day thunderstorms over the higher elevations.
Extended discussion (Friday through Monday)
Model forecasts are in good agreement to the upper level flow pattern in the long term forecast where a high pressure system will be off the Pacific Northwest and a low pressure system will be over southern California. The flow aloft will be somewhat easterly late this week and into the weekend between the two upper level systems, which could advect some moisture over the mountains and bring some chances for showers and thunderstorms to higher elevations during the afternoon and evening hours Friday through the weekend. High temperatures will return to near normal across the valley in the upper 80s to lower 90s, while higher elevations could see the 70s/80s.