Severe Thunderstorm Warning 1, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
151 PM PDT Thu Mar 22 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Continued atmospheric river influence will continue over the area
through Friday morning. A brief break from the precipitation will
take place on Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning. Then
chances for light precipitation will increase by late afternoon
Saturday as a low pressure system moves through the region.
Ridging will then begin to move into the area on Monday bringing
warmer temperatures and drying conditions well into the middle of
next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Thunderstorm development and heavy rain remain the
main concerns in the short-term, or through this evening. Latest
radar images show a line of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms
currently moving over Merced and Mariposa Counties along the cold
front pushing into this area. Other heavy showers are also
developing to the south towards Kings Canyon and Sequoia National
Parks. Another batch of moderate showers are moving towards
western Fresno County, including near Coalinga. Some significant
rises in creeks were enough to cause minor flooding in the hills
northwest of Coalinga, such as Los Gatos Creek since this morning.
The cold front will continue to progress southward over Central
California through this evening, and the threat for heavy rain and
thunderstorms will continue, especially along this boundary. In
addition, any areas ahead of the front where cloud cover has
cleared, including much of the western and southern sides of the
San Joaquin Valley can expect additional shower development along
with isolated strong thunderstorms. Flooding near and over burn
scars due to recent wildfires will continue to be a concern
through this evening. Also, rapid rises in creeks and rivers are
expected, especially in areas of heavy rain that could fall over
areas that have already received abundant amounts since last night
and at earlier times with this ongoing storm. Showers are
expected into Friday morning over much of the region, but remain
confined over the mountain areas in the afternoon. The Storm
Prediction Center (NWS SPC) continues to show a marginal risk of
severe thunderstorms in the San Joaquin Valley and into the Sierra
Nevada foothills through this evening, per their latest Mesoscale
Convective Discussion. Please note we have made no significant
changes to the forecast beyond tonight due to the ongoing
concerns.

&&

.AVIATION...
Mountain obscuration due to clouds/precipitation in the Sierra
Nevada and Tehachapi Range, and MVFR/IFR conditions in low ceilings
and precipitation will prevail through tonight, mainly thru 12Z
Friday. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail throughout the
central California interior 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 until 8 PM PDT this evening CAZ093>097.

Winter Storm Warning until 11 PM PDT this evening ABOVE 8000
FEET FOR THE CAZ096-097.

&&

public...BSO
avn/fw...BSO
synopsis...BSO

weather.gov/hanford

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1257 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

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

1251 PM     FLOOD            1 SE RED ROCK CANYON    35.31N 117.99W
03/22/2018                   KERN               CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REDROCK RANDSBURG ROAD AT HWY 14 CLOSED DUE
            TO WATER OVER THE ROAD. MAY REOPEN TOMORROW.

&&

WP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
123 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

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

0115 PM     DEBRIS FLOW      2 NNW MIDPINES          37.56N 119.94W
03/22/2018                   MARIPOSA           CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LARGE BOULDERS AT SR140 AND COLORADO ROAD.

&&

WP

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
127 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

CAZ089-090-093-222115-
Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno County Foothills CA-East-
Central San Joaquin Valley CA-West-Central San Joaquin Valley CA-
127 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MARIPOSA...
SOUTHWESTERN TUOLUMNE AND NORTHEASTERN MERCED COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM
PDT...

At 125 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorm from Los Banos extending northeast across Atwater and
just north of Lake Mcclure, moving northeast at 35 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, Winton, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
and Lake McClure.

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.

Gusty winds along with already saturated grounds could result in
downed trees.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3756 12059 3763 12039 3765 12037 3769 12039
      3765 12031 3772 12035 3774 12028 3773 12026
      3776 12024 3776 12020 3780 12018 3778 12013
      3781 12009 3777 11997 3702 12072 3708 12086
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 211DEG 58KT 3734 12057

DCH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
135 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

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

0134 PM     DEBRIS FLOW      2 N SNELLING            37.57N 120.43W
03/22/2018                   MERCED             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            J59 AT FIELDS ROAD. ENTIRE ROAD FLOODED.

&&

WP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
203 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

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

0157 PM     DEBRIS FLOW      6 ENE ATWATER           37.38N 120.50W
03/22/2018                   MERCED             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MAJOR FLOODING REPORTED ACROSS THE ROADWAY
            AT J59 AND NEVADA.

&&

WP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
211 PM PDT THU MAR 22 2018

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

0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      17 NNE ATWATER          37.57N 120.43W
03/22/2018                   MERCED             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CHP REPORTING ENTIRE ROADWAY FLOODED.

&&

JM