WeatherFanatics: Pacific Storm to Aggravate Fire Threat Ahead of Beneficial Rain

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Pacific Storm to Aggravate Fire Threat Ahead of Beneficial Rain

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

September 24,2014; 9:37PM,EDT

A storm from the Pacific Ocean will first raise the fire danger in California, then bring cooler air and spotty rain for firefighting efforts.
Winds will pick up ahead of the storm Wednesday into Thursday over California. The combination of warm, dry air and gusty winds ahead of the storm will cause trouble for firefighting efforts.
While the warm, southerly wind will not be very strong, there could be gusts to between 15 and 25 mph in Northern California late Wednesday. On Thursday, winds will average 10 to 20 mph over the mountains and canyons in Southern California.

As the storm progresses inland, winds will shift around to more of a westerly direction. While cooler air and increased humidity may help aid firefighters with the westerly flow, persistent winds may remain an issue by fanning the flames of existent blazes.
Winds from the west and southwest in the Sierra Nevada will average 15-25 mph with gusts in the neighborhood of 40 mph on Thursday and Friday.
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While the Pacific storm will stir potentially disruptive, gusty winds, beneficial rain will arrive for some fire-ravaged areas.
According to Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, "The rain and cooler air should reach the Tahoe King Fire and areas on north starting Wednesday night."
The King Fire, located in El Dorado County, California, has consumed close to 90,000 acres. The blaze has sent out a great deal of smoke and was only about 35 percent contained as of early Tuesday, according to CAL FIRE.
Other significant wildfires continue to burn in Oregon and northern California.

While the bulk of the rain will fall on the western slopes of the coastal ranges, Cascades and northern Sierra Nevada, some showers will spill farther east.
"Enough rain could fall to raise the risk of mudslides in recent burn areas," Clark said.
The heaviest and steadiest rain will stop short of the hardest-hit drought areas in the West. Much more rain will be needed to have significant impact on the drought over California and southeastern Oregon.
Spotty rain showers will affect parts of Southern California by this weekend. The showers will tend to diminish before reaching much of the Los Angeles basin.
However, the major cooldown will not stop short of areas receiving rain.
After much of this week with high temperatures in the 80s F around Los Angeles, highs will be in the 70s this weekend. Sacramento may have its first day with highs in the 70s since Aug. 20.
"It may even get cold enough for a bit of snow to fall on the higher peaks of the Sierra Nevada later Friday and Saturday," Clark said.
Temperatures will dip into the upper 20s and lower 30s at Donner Pass, California, with snow showers possible Friday night and Saturday night.

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