Are in contact with a relatively hot surface (deserts to the east
Are sinking to sea level and therefore are warmed compressionally.
Air that is warm to begin with is further warmed by compression.
The wind patterns are not likely to change soon. The Diablo winds are on the east side of the Rocky Mountains/Sierras or whatever rock formation is accompanying this pattern, but, the Diablo winds do the damage on the west side of the mountains. The lower chart shows the dynamics of the wind.
Attempting to change the Great Basin is fruitless. However, if the hot, dry winds out of the Great Basin meet up with high moisture in California, it will not result in continually rising wind speeds. Lower wind speeds will lower the evaporation of the moisture content in California. The change must come from the west side of the mountains, not the east.
