FXUS66 KSTO 222300 AFDSTO AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA 315 PM PDT SUN JUN 22 2008 .DISCUSSION... SHORT-TERM SYNOPTIC WEATHER PATTERN WILL BE DOMINATED BY RELATIVELY DRY WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AS RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHWEST US CONTINUES TO BE FLATTENED BY GULF OF ALASKA LOW. PROGGED THERMAL PROFILES CHANGE VERY LITTLE IN THIS PATTERN...HOWEVER ONE WOULD EXPECT A GRADUAL DEEPENING OF THE MARINE LAYER RESULTING IN SOME COOLING THROUGH THE DELTA AND SOUTHERN VALLEYS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. BIGGEST CONCERN IN THE SHORT-TERM WILL BE FOCUSED ON FIRE WEATHER AFTER YESTERDAY/S PROLIFIC LIGHTNING EVENT. SEVERAL THOUSAND STRIKES RESULTED IN MANY FIRE STARTS ACROSS OUR AREA. FORTUNATELY.. SYNOPTIC PATTERN SUGGESTS RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS AND HUMIDITIES SHOULD COME UP A BIT IN ONSHORE FLOW PATTERN. .EXTENDED DISCUSSION... MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW WEAK TROFFING DEVELOPING OFF THE COAST LATER IN THE WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS AREA. RESULTANT UPPER LEVEL FLOW TURNS SOUTHEASTERLY...AND AS A RESULT...SOME MOISTURE AND UNSTABLE SUBTROPICAL AIR MAY ADVECT NORTHWARD ALONG THE CREST OF THE SIERRA THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. STILL LOOKS LIKE AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR OUR MOUNTAINS. OTHERWISE...WITH BUILDING HEIGHTS IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD GET QUITE WARM AND SOMEWHAT MUGGY. JUSKIE && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS ALL ROUTES THROUGH MONDAY WITH DRY WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER THE REGION. LOCAL MVFR/IFR VISIBILITIES IN SMOKE NEAR WILDFIRES...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN KMYV AND KOVE...AND BETWEEN KAPC AND KVCB. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$