Severe Thunderstorm Warning 2, NWS Sacramento, CA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
900 PM PST THU MAR 13 2003

A VORT MAX CAN BE SEEN IN IR/WATER VAPOR IMAGERY LIFTING NORTHEAST
INTO NORTHWEST CA NEAR CRESCENT CITY WITH SOME ENERGY SHIFTING
SOUTHEAST...SOUTH OF THE CWA. THIS HAS SPLIT THE PRECIPITATION
MISSING THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAC VALLEY. THE 00Z KOAK SOUNDING
SHOWS A DRY LAYER BETWEEN 600-800 MB. THE 00Z ETA SHOWS ANOTHER
VORT MAX JUST OFF THE COAST MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL VALLEY BY 12Z.
CLOUDS OFF THE COAST SUGGEST PRECIPITATION CONTINUING OVERNIGHT.
RADAR SHOWS RAIN CONTINUING TO DEVELOP ALONG THE COAST AND SPREADING
EAST ACROSS THE CWA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RATHER LIGHT...A FEW
HUNDREDTHS AT VALLEY LOCATIONS AND THE SIERRA WITH GREATER AMOUNTS
.5 TO 1 INCH IN THE NORTHERN COASTAL MOUNTAINS...MAINLY SHASTA
COUNTY. UPDATED ZONES EARLY AS LDS INDICATED LIGHTNING STRIKES IN
THE SIERRA SOUTH OF BLUE CANYON. ALLOWED WIND ADVISORY IN THE DELTA
TO EXPIRE AT 02Z AS WINDS DECREASED. STRONG WINDS CONTINUE IN THE
NORTHERN SAC VALLEY WITH REDDING REPORTING 29 MPH AND SHOWERS
INCREASING TO THE NORTHWEST.NEXT SHORT WAVE WILL AFFECT THE REGION
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...COVERED BY A WSW FOR THE SIERRA.

.STO...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA TONIGHT INTO
       FRIDAY.
    ...WIND ADVISORY TONIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
       SACRAMENTO VALLEY...LAKE COUNTY...MOUNTAINS OF SHASTA COUNTY
       SOUTH TO NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY...AND NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS OF
       THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
    ...WINTER STORM WATCH FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY FOR THE SIERRA
       NEVADA...MOUNTAINS OF SHASTA COUNTY SOUTHWARD ALONG THE
       COASTAL RANGE TO NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY...

CAZ013>019-063-064-066>069-141500-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
700 AM PST THU MAR 13 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A SERIES OF STRONG PACIFIC STORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
BEGINNING TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.  THESE STORMS WILL BRING
SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION AND STRONG WINDS TO THE INTERIOR OF
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR MUCH OF
THE INTERIOR OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.  REFER TO THE ADVISORY (WWUS76
KSTO NPWSTO) FOR DETAILS.

A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED BEGINNING TONIGHT FOR
THE WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA INCLUDING WESTERN
PLUMAS COUNTY.  REFER TO THE WARNING (WWUS46 KSTO WSWSTO) FOR
DETAILS.

A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED BEGINNING TONIGHT FOR
PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS.  REFER TO THE WATCH (WWUS46 KSTO
WSWSTO) FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN

A WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH FRIDAY FOR THE WEST SLOPES
OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA INCLUDING WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY.
REFER TO THE WARNING (WWUS46 KSTO WSWSTO) FOR DETAILS.

A WINTER STORM WATCH CONTINUES THROUGH FRIDAY FOR PORTIONS OF THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS.  REFER TO THE WATCH (WWUS46 KSTO WSWSTO) FOR
DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT
(LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/SACRAMENTO

JHM/KJ