Alert archive / California / Special Weather Statements in 2018

Special Weather Statement, NWS Eureka, CA

May 15, 2018Trinity County, California

NWS Eureka, CA issued this special weather statement at May 15, 2018, 2:59 PM PDT for Trinity County, California. It was in force for 16 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: May 15, 2018, 2:59 PM PDT (21:59 UTC)
Expired: May 15, 2018, 3:15 PM PDT
In force: 16 min
Issued by: NWS Eureka, CA

County Trinity County, CA

The nearest sounding before it

Medford/Jackson, OR (KMFR), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 172 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 24 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -337 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1200 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 14 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 May 15, 2:54 PM PDT, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 2:54 PM PDT, 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
254 PM PDT Tue May 15 2018

.SYNOPSIS...Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue for
the interior portions of northwest California this afternoon and
evening. Steering flow aloft will be out of the east thus some
showers and perhaps even an isolated thunderstorm may reach the
coastal areas this evening. Chances for showers and isolated
thunderstorms remain in the forecast for interior areas through
Thursday, primarily across the Siskiyou Mountains, Trinity Alps,
and the Yolla Bolly range.

&&

.DISCUSSION...The forecast remains on track this afternoon as
showers and thunderstorms have developed over the interior
portions of northwest California while the marine layer continues
to influence the coast. As the evening progresses, a low pressure
system will drift inland to our south. This track will continue to
spread deep easterly winds across the region and allow storms to
continue to drift westward toward the coast. Just enough elevated
instability may be present to allow for a strike of lightning or
two to wake up coastal residents Wednesday morning, but
probability and confidence levels are low. The forecast for
Wednesday is a bit more tricky as models continue to show showers
and isolated thunderstorms for portions of northwest California.
A few parameters that put this portion of the forecast at risk are
cloud cover, instability, and shear. If thunderstorms do form
tomorrow, they should stay confined to the Siskiyou Mountains,
Trinity Alps, and Yolla Bolly range. Thursday, the chances for
showers and thunderstorm continue to dwindle and will continue to
do so as we head into Friday. Chances for showers and
thunderstorms may return late this weekend and early next week but
there is a considerable amount of uncertainty on timing and
location.

Along the coast, a deep marine layer will remain present which
will keep stratus in the forecast.

&&

.AVIATION...A strong marine influence once again brought MVFR-IFR stratus
ceilings to the Redwood Coast. The marine layer was quite deep,
penetrating well into the coastal and inland valleys... including
UKI. Another influencing condition over the flying area today
is convection, which is associated with a couple of upper low
systems that make the steering from east-west. Therefore, showers
and thunderstorms are developing and tracking towards the North
Coast. By 1 PM, Vis Satellite indicated some disruption to the
marine layer's multi-layered decks which appeared to be lifting,
but still borderline MVFR/VFR. Convective activity should last
through the evening or longer. Model guidance indicated that the
marine layer will still continue into Wednesday morning. /TA

&&

.MARINE...Light southerly winds and low seas will continue through
Thursday, with significant wave heights remaining between 2-5 feet
throughout the waters. The sea state will consist of a mix of longer
period swells, both from the northwest and south...the latter of
which will be most prominent offshore.

Winds will turn to the north late Thursday and steadily increase
into the weekend reaching between 15 and 25 kt by Saturday
morning. These winds will continue through the weekend and will
result in building steeper seas, likely reaching around 7 to 10
feet at 6 to 9 seconds. The strongest winds, and likewise the
largest seas, will be located south of Cape Mendocino during this
time frame. /BRC

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...None.
&&

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For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
http://www.weather.gov/eureka/zonemap.png

Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 2:26 PM PDT, 33 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Eureka CA
226 PM PDT Tue May 15 2018

CAZ102-105>108-110-111-162130-
Del Norte Interior-Northern Humboldt Interior-
Southern Humboldt Interior-Northern Trinity-Southern Trinity-
Northwestern Mendocino Interior-Northeastern Mendocino Interior-
226 PM PDT Tue May 15 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will continue across interior areas through
the late afternoon and evening. Cloud to ground lightning, gusty
winds, small hail, and brief torrential downpours can be expected
with the strongest storms. Storms will weaken and slowly drift toward
the coast overnight, but may continue to produce occasional lightning
strikes through the night.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will again be possible
Wednesday, with a few isolated afternoon showers possible Thursday
as well.

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

For further details please refer to NOAA Weather Radio or
weather.gov/eureka.

CAZ104-109-112-113-162130-
Southwestern Humboldt-Mendocino Coast-
Southwestern Mendocino Interior-Southeastern Mendocino Interior-
226 PM PDT Tue May 15 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A few showers may drift towards the Mendocino coast overnight, and a
strike of lightning or two can't be completely ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

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

For further details please refer to NOAA Weather Radio or
weather.gov/eureka.

CAZ101-103-162130-
Coastal Del Norte-Northern Humboldt Coast-
226 PM PDT Tue May 15 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered showers are expected to drift towards the coast late this
evening and overnight, and a few strikes of lightning and brief heavy
downpours will be possible with this activity.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Scattered showers are expected Wednesday, beginning early in the
morning and continuing off and on through the day. A few lightning
strikes and brief heavy downpours will be possible.

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

For further details please refer to NOAA Weather Radio or
weather.gov/eureka.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 15, 1:49 PM PDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
149 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

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

0146 PM     HAIL             1 NNW ORLEANS           41.31N 123.53W
05/15/2018  E0.25 INCH       HUMBOLDT           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ORLEANS, NERN HUMBOLDT COUNTY... 1/4 NORTH
            OF USFS AT 400 FEET. T-STORMS FOR ABOUT AN
            HOUR WITH LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL.

&&

Special weather statement, May 15, 1:51 PM PDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eureka CA
151 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

CAZ107-108-152130-
Southern Trinity CA-Northern Trinity CA-
151 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL TRINITY AND EASTERN
HUMBOLDT COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM PDT...

At 149 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms stretching from near Hyampom to near Hayfork. These
storms are nearly stationary.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm...along with dangerous cloud to ground lightning.

Locations impacted include...
Hayfork, Big Bar, Burnt Ranch, Peanut, Del Loma and Hyampom.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4041 12307 4057 12355 4072 12355 4085 12349
      4075 12320 4060 12297
TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 103DEG 4KT 4067 12342

BC

Special weather statement, May 15, 2:28 PM PDT, 31 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eureka CA
228 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

CAZ107-108-152200-
Southern Trinity CA-Northern Trinity CA-
228 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL TRINITY AND
NORTHEASTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM PDT...

At 227 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Del Loma and Big Bar, moving northwest at 10 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Hayfork, Big Bar, Burnt Ranch and Del Loma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4054 12330 4071 12355 4074 12354 4076 12356
      4077 12355 4079 12356 4079 12357 4080 12357
      4080 12356 4081 12356 4094 12327 4067 12306
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 140DEG 9KT 4074 12342

BC

Special weather statement, May 15, 2:59 PM PDT, 0 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eureka CA
259 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

CAZ107-108-152215-
Southern Trinity CA-Northern Trinity CA-
259 PM PDT TUE MAY 15 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL TRINITY AND
NORTHEASTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM PDT...

At 257 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
located from Del Loma to Helena moving north at 10 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Big Bar, Junction City, Denny, Helena, Burnt Ranch and Del Loma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4069 12301 4071 12354 4093 12354 4092 12348
      4093 12348 4095 12344 4096 12345 4099 12324
      4093 12290
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 171DEG 9KT 4085 12327

BC

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 1:51 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	EKA	Trinity	39 min
May 15, 2:28 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	EKA	Trinity	32 min
May 15, 3:47 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	EKA	Trinity	58 min
May 15, 4:15 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	EKA	Trinity	45 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in California, 2018 Every 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.