...HOT AND DRY WEATHER WITH RECORD SETTING TEMPERATURES INTO
SATURDAY...
...POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY ACROSS THE NORTH EARLY NEXT
WEEK...

.METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (THU AM - WED AM)...

An anomalous ridge continues to sit over the western US with 500-hPa
height anomalies of 6+ sigma over the Four Corners region. The
placement of the ridge is directing any storm activity into the PNW
while driving well above normal temperatures across the forecast
area with numerous daily and March records being set. The heat looks
to peak either today or tomorrow with the 500-hPa height anomalies
extending northward into tomorrow.

The ridge begins to flatten out on Saturday which should provide a
slight reprieve to the heat and allow for the opportunity for
unsettled weather to make its way into the northern portions of the
forecast region early next week. GFS is currently more bullish than
the EC, placing over a half an inch in the Smith Basin on Tuesday
while the EC is around a couple tenths. The GFS also has
accumulating precipitation as far south as the Russian Basin and as
far east as the northeast Plateau in California. Morning forecasts
followed guidance from the NBM and WPC, which falls more in line
with the EC.

After the brief chance for precipitation, guidance suggest the ridge
will rebuild,though not as strong as the current ridge. This will
result in a return to warm and dry weather.

Please Note: This product may NOT be routinely updated.
Please refer to the following product issued by the CNRFC
www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/Daily-Briefing for a graphical summary of
weather and hydrologic conditions.