672 FXUS66 KHNX 121737 AFDHNX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1037 AM PDT Thu Jun 12 2025 && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Minor Heat Risk will be present for most of the lower elevations today with Moderate Heat Risk in localized areas of the San Joaquin Valley and in the Kern County Desert. 2. Drier air will cause minimum relative humidity o fall between 10 and 20 percent for much of the region through the forecast period. 3. A minor cooling trend continues into the weekend with seasonably warm temperatures by Saturday. 4. Stronger wind gusts are possible in the Mojave Desert Slopes later this evening with up to a 70 percent chance to exceed 40 mph. && .DISCUSSION... A zonal flow remains in place over central California today with a continuation of the pattern into Friday. An area of high pressure over Baja California will slide eastward into Saturday, allowing a Pacific trough to track through the area over the weekend. The southwest flow ahead of the trough is expected to result in a slight cooling trend and will cause afternoon temperatures to approach season averages. While the atmospheric flow is from the Pacific, much of the air is relatively dry and will cause RH values across the region to fall between 15 and 20 percent well into next week. Some localized areas in the Sierra Nevada may fall between 10 to 15 percent. These RH values will increase the risk for fire development across the region as greater live fuel moisture begins to dry out. While winds will remain relatively consistent, some stronger wind gusts are possible in the lee side of the Sierra and in steep terrain where the winds can be channeled. Uncertainty remains for the pattern for next week, though ensemble guidance is pointing towards another weak trough passing through the region midweek, which is favorable to continue the current conditions. A weak ridge towards the end of the week brings a 40 to 60 percent chance to return to triple- digit temperatures. && .AVIATION... 18Z Update: VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours across the Central California Interior. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... ISSUED: 06/11/2025 14:56 EXPIRES: 06/12/2025 23:59 None. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high. The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium. Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ public/aviation...mccoy weather.gov/hanford