October 31, 2018 – Breezy north winds this week with elevated fire weather concerns. Dry with warmer than normal temperatures through the middle of next week.
Discussion
Warmer and drier most areas this morning as breezy north to east winds continue. The Sierra and coast range are seeing the strongest winds this morning with gusts up to the mid 30 mph range. Upper ridge over the eastern Pacific bringing the warm dry conditions will amplify and push inland a bit today bringing a little more warming. Winds should decrease slightly as well but will still be breezy through the day and overnight tonight so it could be a bit breezy for the trick or treaters this evening.
Upper ridge axis aligns along the west coast on Thursday which should bring a fairly significant drop off and winds by afternoon but also more warming with daytime highs expected to reach about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year.
Temperatures level off on Friday as a weak shortwave rides over the west coast ridge and through the Pacific Northwest. This system will be too far north to have any significant direct impact on the forecast area. Surface high pressure pushing into the Pacific Northwest behind this system, however, will bring another round of breezy north winds to the north state.
Cool air funneling in to the departing system may bring a little cooling northern zones on Saturday but for the most part daytime highs Saturday will remain well above normal. The breezy north winds will bring lowering humidity so looks like another period of increased fire danger going into the weekend.
Extended Discussion (Sunday through Wednesday)
Dry weather with warm days and cool nights is forecast to continue early next week as the dominant ridge holds over the eastern Pacific and West Coast. Locally breezy northerly winds will be possible at times.