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It's been a hard week for CA w/ major wildfires (#GettyFire, #KincaidFire) affecting the state. Synoptic weather context is key: Fires were aided by repeated mountain & gap winds via ridge building over the Great Basin. This ridge building enhances the pressure gradient over CA.

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Philippe Papin

@pppapin

Oct 30, 2019

The synoptic weather sets the stage, but the mountain interaction enhances the winds further. Let's illustrate the mesoscale details w/ a cross-section across the coastal CA mountain ranges. Hurricane force (#SantaAna) winds form as cold easterly flow tries to cross the barrier.

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Philippe Papin

@pppapin

Oct 30, 2019

The record-breaking cold pool intensity associated w/ a 1045-hPa ridge is one reason why this last mountain wind event for southern California may be the worst. Inland, 850-hPa temps are at record lows, but adiabatic compression modifies the air to near climo on the coast.

JSON Baumgartner

@jasonbaumgartne

Replying to

@pppapin

Keeping in mind this is just a data point among many, will we see more wild fluctuations like this more frequently due to climate change?

2:51 AM · Oct 30, 2019Twitter Web App