Flash Flood Watch 2, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
324 AM PST Thu Jan 5 2017

.SYNOPSIS...A very moist flow of Pacific air will continue over
the region bringing periods of rain and high mountain snow
through this evening. Dry conditions are expected on Friday, then
another even stronger fetch of moisture will take aim on the
region this weekend into early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Atmospheric River (AR) #1 continues in the Sierra
with moderate to locally heavy rains continuing. The main focus of
flooding this overnight has been the Greenhorn Mountains and
western slopes of the Sierra over Kern and Tulare Counties where
rain gauges at Alta Sierra and Greenhorn Summit have exceed 8.5
inches in the past 28 hours. USGS stream gauges along the South
Fork of the Tule River as well as Deer Creek are showing
unprecedented stage and flow rates and they continue to increase
with time. Flood Advisory product remains in effect for this
region through mid morning.

Elsewhere, impressive 4-6 inch rain totals abound in the Sierra
with snow levels at 8000-8500 feet. Obviously very heavy snow is
falling over the high country and the Winter Storm Warning will
remain in effect. As is always the case in these highly
topographically driven events, the San Joaquin Valley has received
much less rain with amounts generally less than 0.75" and many
locations getting only around 0.25".

So...for today water vapor satellite imagery shows the AR extended
still well to the west of the coast and models accordingly keep
the rain going through much of the day. By tonight this AR #1
event should come to an end with some brief ridging and drying for
Friday and Friday Night. This drying will be needed for flood
clean up and preparation for the next seemingly even wetter event,
AR #2, progged to arrive Saturday morning and continuing well
into Monday. Model forecast rainfall amounts in the Sierra target
areas from Fresno County north with 10-15" of potential RAIN and
5-10" over the already water logged Tulare County and North Kern
Mountains.

It cannot be emphasized enough that the forecast amounts of rain
will cause extreme flooding for the Sierra, foothills and adjacent
lower elevations. Yosemite Park has the potential for a major
flood as well as most other locations along rivers and streams in
the Central California Interior. Please plan accordingly.

The longer term also looks wet....

&&

.AVIATION...
In the San Joaquin Valley, mainly VFR with areas of MVFR and local
IFR in rain and mist. In the southern Sierra Nevada and adjacent
foothills and the Tehachapi Mountains, widespread mountain obscuring
IFR in upslope clouds and precipitation thru 06Z Friday then areas
of MVFR and local IFR in upslope after 06Z Friday. Otherwise, VFR
conditions are expected during the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium.

Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit
www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.php for additional information
an/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Flash Flood Watch through Monday afternoon CAZ090-092>097.

Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon ABOVE 7000
FEET FOR THE CAZ096-097.

&&

public...Dudley
avn/fw...DS
synopsis...Dudley

weather.gov/hanford

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA
619 AM PST THU JAN 05 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0544 AM     DEBRIS FLOW      10 SW LAKE ISABELLA     35.51N 118.59W
01/05/2017                   KERN               CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HIGHWAY 178 CLOSED DUE TO ROCK AND MUD SLIDES FROM
            EXCESSIVE RAINFALL. REPORTED BY CHP.

&&

DS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
648 AM PST THU JAN 5 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0647 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 W FISH CAMP           37.47N 119.74W
01/05/2017  M3.08 INCH       MARIPOSA           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            . THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS
            24 HOURS.

&&

JBD

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