Smoke Call Status:

Next Call:  Jan 6 @ 1300 hrs PST

Issued:

12:30 PM   Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Discussion - Thursday & Friday

Stronger high pressure aloft persists over the N state and will maintain above normal temperatures away from the coast.  Lighter surface winds and transport winds will also prevail as a weak pressure gradient resides over all areas. Increasing sun angle and the warmer temperatures will also lead to better afternoon mixing heights, especially across the large inland valleys...but the lack of wind will keep most protected valleys under morning inversions during the next 2 days with a slow breakout. Ventilation will be poor due to the lack of wind especially across sharper and protected drainages.  Air quality will likely suffer as well with pockets of reduced visibility due to haze or ag smoke, especially along the S Sac Vly and Greater Bay Area.

(mph)

(ft AGL)

Thursday Afternoon

Thursday Afternoon

Thursday Night

Thursday Night

Click on images to enlarge

Friday Afternoon

Friday Afternoon

Extended Outlook

Saturday - Monday

High pressure will continue into Saturday but then another couple of  "Inside Slider" type troughs are expected to move over the ridge sliding south across the N state into the western Great Basin on Sun and Mon.  Although not necessarily strong, these features will enhance N winds across most areas while increasing E and NE winds during the night and morning periods.  This weather should lead to better ventilation across the larger N-S aligned valleys as well as the surrounding foothills of the Sierra as well as increased ventilation across the Greater Bay Area.

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