Alert archive / California / Special Weather Statements in 2018

Special Weather Statement, NWS Eureka, CA

April 11, 2018Humboldt County, California

NWS Eureka, CA issued this special weather statement at Apr 11, 2018, 2:31 PM PDT for Humboldt County, California. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 11, 2018, 2:31 PM PDT (21:31 UTC)
Expired
Apr 11, 2018, 3:00 PM PDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Eureka, CA

County Humboldt County, CA

The radar

The Eureka (Bunker Hill) radar (KBHX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:34 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Medford/Jackson, OR (KMFR), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 256 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Medford/Jackson, OR at 12:00Z on 2018-04-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Medford/Jackson, OR at 12:00Z on 2018-04-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 67 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1072 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
67 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
249 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Apr 11, 3:37 AM PDT, 10 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 11, 3:37 AM PDT, 10 hours 54 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
337 AM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018

.SYNOPSIS...Moderate to locally heavy rain is expected during
Wednesday afternoon as a front moves east across the region.
Showers will continue behind the front Wednesday night and
Thursday, with isolated thunderstorms and small hail possible
along the coast, and light mountain snow likely over the interior.
Drier weather is expected during Friday and Saturday, followed by
additional rain and mountain snow on Sunday and Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Strong frontal ascent will move east across the
region this afternoon, and though moisture will not be particularly
anomalous, moderate to locally heavy rain will be possible
(particularly over the mountains of Del Norte and northern
Humboldt Counties). Meanwhile, a cold unstable airmass will spread
east across northwest California behind the front tonight.
Lightning data shows scattered strikes occurring within the post
frontal airmass Wednesday morning over the northeast Pacific.
Thus, confidence has increased slightly in isolated thunderstorm
and small hail potential along the Humboldt/Del Norte coast
Wednesday night.

Otherwise, snow levels are forecast to fall to 2500-3000 feet
tonight. This will favor light snow for interior highway passes,
with higher totals in excess of 4 inches probable above 4000 feet.
The higher amounts above 4000 feet would be sufficient for an
advisory, but elected not to issue due to highest snowfall totals
occurring over unpopulated areas of far eastern Del Norte,
northern and southeastern Trinity, and northeast Mendocino
Counties.

Light showers will continue through Thursday, followed by upper
ridging and drier weather Friday and Saturday. The upper ridge
will be shunted east going into Sunday as a large upper low enters
the NERN PAC. The upper-low will be accompanied by very cold
midlevel temperatures (2 to 3 standard deviations below CLIMO at
500 mb), which will support additional mountain snowfall Sunday
and Monday, as well as isolated thunderstorms and small hail near
the coast.

&&

.AVIATION...VFR conditions early this morning will start to
deteriorate by late morning into this afternoon as an approaching
cold front generates a period of moderate to heavy rain.
Conditions for the most will fall to MVFR, however IFR cigs and
vsbys will be possible in heavy rain this afternoon, primarily at
CEC. Moist NW flow along with a weak disturbance aloft will
generate additional bouts of rain and MVFR cigs and vsbys through
tonight. The front will also generate fairly brisk south-
southeasterly winds this morning, especially at CEC. Winds will
rapidly shift around to the west and northwest and become gusty by
this evening in the cooler more unstable air behind the front.

&&

.MARINE...A cold front will move across the waters today
generating another round of robust southerly winds. Winds will
rapidly shift around to the W-NW and become gusty in the cooler
more unstable air behind the front by this evening. A secondary
westerly wind surge may follow on Thu, however, guidance has been
consistent with mostly sub-advisory level winds, 20 kt or less.
With slightly more unstable conditions on Thu, higher
instantaneous peak gusts in and around showers or storms should be
expected. Going into Fri-Sun, winds overall look to remain rather
bland with the only question being another weak front that will
approach either Fri night or Sat. The potential for strong winds
(southerly or northwest) with this front remains very low at the
moment.

Both long period westerly swell and short period southerly wind
waves will build today. The swell continue to build tonight, with
significant wave heights reaching 15 ft on Thu. Hazardous seas
will continue on Fri, though the swell will start to trend
downward. Another long period swell will build over the weekend
and heights may once again reach or exceed 10 ft.

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until
     4 AM PDT Saturday for PZZ450.

     Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM PDT Saturday for PZZ470.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 4 AM PDT Saturday
     for PZZ455-475.

&&

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/eureka

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at:
http://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka
http://www.twitter.com/nwseureka

For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
http://www.weather.gov/eureka/zonemap.png
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 11, 3:04 AM PDT, 11 hours 27 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Eureka CA
304 AM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018

CAZ102-105>108-110-111-113-121015-
Del Norte Interior-Northern Humboldt Interior-
Southern Humboldt Interior-Northern Trinity-Southern Trinity-
Northwestern Mendocino Interior-Northeastern Mendocino Interior-
Southeastern Mendocino Interior-
304 AM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Light snow will be possible at highway pass levels tonight. Heavier
snowfall in excess of 4 inches will be possible for elevations above
4000 feet.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Light mountain snow showers will continue during Thursday.
Additional mountain snow will be possible Sunday and Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

CAZ109-112-121015-
Mendocino Coast-Southwestern Mendocino Interior-
304 AM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Isolated thunderstorms and small hail will be possible Sunday and
Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

CAZ101-103-104-121015-
Coastal Del Norte-Northern Humboldt Coast-Southwestern Humboldt-
304 AM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

A slight chance of thunderstorms and small hail exists Wednesday
night.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Isolated thunderstorms and small hail will be possible Sunday and
Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 11, 1:33 PM PDT, 58 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 11, 1:55 PM PDT, 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eureka CA
155 PM PDT WED APR 11 2018

CAZ101>106-112130-
Southwestern Humboldt CA-Northern Humboldt Coast CA-
Del Norte Interior CA-Southern Humboldt Interior CA-
Northern Humboldt Interior CA-Coastal Del Norte CA-
155 PM PDT WED APR 11 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MENDOCINO...WESTERN
HUMBOLDT AND DEL NORTE COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM PDT...

At 154 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong showers along a
line extending from near Smith River to 43 miles west of Fort Bragg.
Movement was northeast at 30 mph.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Eureka, Arcata, Crescent City, Shelter Cove, Orick, Jedediah Smith
State Park, Honeydew, Klamath, Jack McNamera Field, Fortuna, Rio
Dell, Trinidad, Petrolia, Smith River, McKinleyville, Whitehorn and
Westhaven-Moonstone.

LAT...LON 4060 12442 4102 12425 4115 12434 4120 12419
      4139 12413 4167 12429 4185 12422 4200 12420
      4199 12371 4152 12386 4000 12392 4000 12402
      3990 12393 3982 12393 4030 12441
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 243DEG 26KT 4198 12410 3955 12461

BC
Special weather statement, Apr 11, 2:31 PM PDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eureka CA
231 PM PDT WED APR 11 2018

CAZ103>106-112200-
Southwestern Humboldt CA-Northern Humboldt Coast CA-
Southern Humboldt Interior CA-Northern Humboldt Interior CA-
231 PM PDT WED APR 11 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MENDOCINO AND
WESTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM PDT...

At 230 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Trinidad to to 25
miles southwest of Shelter Cove. Movement was northeast at 30 mph.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Eureka, Arcata, Shelter Cove, Honeydew, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Trinidad,
McKinleyville, Whitehorn, Carlotta, Westhaven-Moonstone, Scotia,
Pepperwood, Petrolia, Weott, Ferndale, Blue Lake,
and Hydesville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4055 12442 4117 12416 4131 12370 4054 12397
      4000 12380 4000 12402 3996 12398 3993 12396
      3991 12393 3986 12391 3984 12387 3979 12404
      4029 12441
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 242DEG 27KT 4107 12417 4039 12436 3977 12439

BC

The office that day

Everything else NWS Eureka, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 11, 12:55 PM PDTSpecial Marine WarningEKA50 min
Apr 11, 1:33 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKADel Norte12 min
Apr 11, 1:43 PM PDTSpecial Marine WarningEKA32 min
Apr 11, 1:55 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKADel Norte, Humboldt35 min
Apr 11, 2:13 PM PDTSpecial Marine WarningEKA32 min
Apr 11, 3:00 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAHumboldt15 min
Apr 11, 3:21 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAMendocino39 min
Apr 11, 4:37 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementEKAHumboldt23 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in California, 2018Every special weather statement in 2018

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.