Wind Advisory 10, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
359 PM PST Thu Jan 31 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
The first in a series of weather systems is exiting the region
this afternoon. Some patchy fog is possible across the San Joaquin
Valley tonight into Saturday morning. A stronger system will move
in Friday night and Saturday with significant precipitation and
wind impacts expected. A third system will move through Sunday
into early next week for more precipitation and lower snow levels.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Satellite water vapor imagery shows a compact upper
low sliding southeast along the coast, now just offshore from San
Diego. A healthy plume of moister brought some moderate to heavy
rainfall at times today, mostly in western Kern County. Rainfall
amounts ranged one to three quarters of an inch in this area with
nearly 1" measured in Taft. CHP reported some roadway flooding in
western Kern County earlier today. Winter Weather Advisory
remains in effect through 7 PM tonight for the Tehachapi mountains
above 6000 feet. Radar showing most of the activity is now
confined to the Desert in Kern County at this time. Expect this to
taper off this evening as the upper low pulls farther away. There
are some clearing skies across the San Joaquin Valley this
afternoon, and we could see patchy fog develop overnight into
Friday morning.

The next system will be much stronger and will bring significant
precipitation and wind impacts as a strong upper jet drives a
plume of subtropical moisture towards the central California
coast. Precip may arrive by sunset on Friday, but more likely
later in the evening. Precip will increase in coverage and
intensify late Friday night through Saturday. Heavy rain and
mountain snow is likely. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for
the Sierra Nevada below 7000 feet and for the Sierra foothills
from Friday evening through Saturday evening. 2-4 inches of
rainfall is forecast with locally higher amounts possible. Recent
burn scars will be most vulnerable with potential for mudslides,
rockslides and debris flows. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for
the Sierra Nevada beginning late Friday afternoon. Snow levels
will be around 7000 feet during the bulk of the heavy snowfall
through Saturday with up to 3 feet of new snow possible. Gusty
winds will develop Friday evening with strong winds possible
overnight into Saturday morning. A High Wind Watch is in effect
for the Kern County Mountains and the San Joaquin Valley from
Friday evening through Saturday morning.

A third system will move in Sunday night and Monday and could
even linger through Tuesday. This will be a much colder storm
system with snow levels lowering to 3000-4000 feet on Monday.
This will bring snow down into the foothills as well as the
major passes in Kern County. Due to the cold air mass, there
will not be as much moisture to work with. But any snow down
to the pass levels will create hazardous travel conditions.
Models currently indicate a dry pattern shaping up for the
middle and end of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
MVFR/IFR conditions possible in mist/fog across the San Joaquin
Valley from 08z to 18z Friday. Otherwise, VFR conditions expected
across 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.html for additional information
an/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Flash Flood Watch from Friday evening through Saturday evening
CAZ093-094-096-097.

Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through Monday evening
ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR THE CAZ096-097.

Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM PST this evening ABOVE 6000
FEET FOR THE CAZ095.

High Wind Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning
CAZ089>092-095.

&&

public...DCH
avn/fw...Molina
synopsis...DCH

weather.gov/hanford