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Smoke Call Status:   Mon thru Fri excluding Holidays
Issued: 12:30 PM   Thursday, October 29, 2026
Discussion - Friday & Saturday
Troughing will be the main weather pattern during this period. This means increasing NW-W-SW or onshore flow, especially more notable on Sat compared to Fri. The Modoc Plateau and along/E of the Crest will be favored for the steadier afternoon transport winds. Mixing heights look to be at near or a little above seasonal levels atlhough cloud cover and shower activity would likely making values a little lower overall on Sat compared to what is shown in the forecast. Ventilation rates are likely to be variable across the landscape with a mix of poor-moderate and good ratings. The lowest afternoon ventilation appears to be found across the Sacramento Valley and portions of the Coastal Range on Fri. 
Transport winds
Mixing Heights
(mph) (ft AGL)
Friday Afternoon Friday Afternoon
Friday Night Friday Night
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Transport winds
Mixing Heights
Saturday Afternoon Saturday Afternoon
 Sunday - Tuesday
Trough pattern will transition into a Ridge pattern Sun night thru Tue. This means lessening afternoon mixing, strengthening overnight inversions plus some variable transport wind directions due to pattern change. Transport winds should trend more N-NW on Sun, then turn more N-NE-E Sun night into Mon morning with steadier speeds found west of the Crest in areas. Lesser speeds likely Mon-Tue afternoons with some variability but generally E-SE. Ventilation overall will be variable during this period but trend lower overall with lots of poor and moderate ratings. The worst ventilation day appears to be Tue due to a strong inversion leading into a very light transport wind day. The best day of this period appears to be Sun.  
Helpful Resources:
Air Resources Board
San Joaquin Air Quality
AirNow Fire and Smoke Map
North Zone Predictive Services Weather Page
South Zone Predictive Services Weather Page
NWS California Fire Weather Page
NWS Spot Forecast Request
This Product was developed by the Predictive Services group, located at the North Zone Coordination Center in Redding, California