Special Weather Statement, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
115 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

.SYNOPSIS...A cold storm system will continue to bring scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms to the district through Thursday
with snow above 2,500 feet. Heavy snow accumulations are likely above
5.000 feet by Thursday evening. A few lingering showers are possible
over the mountains and desert Friday. High temperatures will average
well below normal through the end of this week. Saturday and Sunday
will be dry with seasonable afternoon temperatures.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A storm system which only days ago originated in the
Gulf of Alaska is currently situated along the northern California
coast near Eureka. This storm has already produced generous snow
totals in the mountains since Tuesday evening and snow has been
observed at elevations as low as 2500 feet. By late this morning
up to 10 inches of snow had fallen in the vicinity of Bass Lake
and a few automated gages in the Sierra above 7,000 feet reported
new snow accumulations of a foot or more. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms with small hail and heavy downpours have
been occurring in the lower elevations this afternoon. Convective
activity will likely continue through Thursday over much of the
CWA as the cold core upper level low inches down the California
coast. Showers will be most numerous over the mountains during the
next 24 hours and be more widely scattered in the San Joaquin
Valley.

The models forecast the center of this cold core low to be near
Point Conception by late Thursday afternoon. Due to its proximity,
the atmospheric environment will again be unstable enough to
trigger isolated thunderstorms with small hail in the San Joaquin
Valley, especially south of Fresno County. Meanwhile, additional
snow will fall at elevations above 2500 feet tonight and about
3500 feet on Thursday with associated hazardous winter impacts
above these elevations for motorists. Shower activity will diminish
over our CWA Thursday evening and night as this storm system
gravitates farther south. Isolated to scattered showers could linger
over the mountains and desert through Friday, however, as moisture
wraps around this storm on its way into western Arizona. By Friday
night, the models position this storm over the Four Corners region
and a northerly flow should bring a drier air mass into our CWA.
Low clouds could remain banked up, however, along the north facing
slopes of the Kern county mountains into Saturday morning. Otherwise,
high temperatures through Friday will average well below normal over
much of the central California interior.

A warming trend this weekend will finally bring high temperatures
to seasonable levels as an upper level ridge of high pressure
drifts across the state from the Eastern Pacific into the Great
Basin. It's encouraging to see the NBM and the ensembles in much
better agreement today which bring another cold storm system with
a return of showery weather to much of the central California
interior Sunday night and Monday. If this system takes more of an
eastern track than the current storm system as the models suggest,
the bulk of its precipitation will fall over the Sierra and may
end up staying north of Kern County. Whatever the case, elevations
in the Sierra above 5,000 feet will probably receive several new
inches of snow from this storm system by Monday evening. In
addition, this storm will also bring another unseasonably cool
air mass into the CWA early next week. Afternoon temperatures
Monday may again be no higher than the 50s in the San Joaquin
Valley and the Kern County desert. Upper level ridging in the wake
of this storm will bring dry weather and a warming trend on days
6 and 7. By next Wednesday afternoon, temperatures should be back
up near normal.

&&

.AVIATION...IFR conditions will prevail over the mountains during
the next 24 hours with local LIFR and mountain obscurations in
precipitation.  MVFR ceilings can be expected in the foothills
with local IFR in heavier showers through 00z Friday. Isolated
thunderstorms with small hail can be expected in the San Joaquin
Valley and lower foothills through at least 03z Thursday and
again after 20z Thursday. VFR conditions can be expected elsewhere
over 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...
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST this evening for CAZ190>195.

Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST Thursday for CAZ196-197.

&&

synopsis...Durfee
public/fw...Durfee
aviation....BSO
PIO/IDSS...BSO, DCH

weather.gov/hanford

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
1255 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

CAZ180-181-102130-
San Joaquin Confluence CA-Merced and Madera CA-
1255 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MADERA AND WESTERN
FRESNO COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM PST...

At 1254 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms over
Firebaugh, or 20 miles west of Madera, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Mendota and Firebaugh.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

Large amounts of small hail may fall with this storm. Hail
accumulating along roadways can make travel hazardous.

&&

LAT...LON 3676 12039 3682 12056 3701 12047 3696 12024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 205DEG 14KT 3686 12043

BSO

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
102 PM PST WED MAR 10 2021

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

1250 PM     SNOW             PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB      34.85N 119.16W
03/10/2021  M4.0 INCH        KERN               CA   PUBLIC

            ELEVATION 6250 FEET.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
113 PM PST WED MAR 10 2021

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

1145 AM     HAIL             3 ENE VISALIA           36.34N 119.28W
03/10/2021  M0.25 INCH       TULARE             CA   NWS EMPLOYEE

            LOCATION APPROXIMATE.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
138 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

CAZ180-181-183-184-102215-
San Joaquin Confluence CA-Fresno CA-Merced and Madera CA-
Foggy Bottom CA-
138 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL MADERA AND CENTRAL
FRESNO COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM PST...

At 137 PM PST, trained weather spotters reported a strong
thunderstorm near Parkwood, or near Madera, moving northeast at 30
mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Madera, Parkwood, Parksdale, Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos and
Biola.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3673 12015 3687 12025 3704 11995 3690 11982
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 241DEG 28KT 3688 12006

BSO

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
215 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

CAZ181-190-102300-
Merced and Madera CA-Central Sierra Foothills CA-
215 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MADERA COUNTY UNTIL 300
PM PST...

At 214 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles northeast of Madera Acres, or 12 miles northeast of Madera,
moving northeast at 5 mph.

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

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Madera
County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3705 11997 3709 12005 3718 11995 3713 11983
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 221DEG 6KT 3711 11996

BSO

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
221 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

CAZ183-184-102300-
Fresno CA-Foggy Bottom CA-
221 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTY UNTIL 300
PM PST...

At 220 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Raisin City, or 15 miles southwest of Fresno, moving northeast at 20
mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Fresno.

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.

Large amounts of small hail may fall with this storm. Hail
accumulating along roadways can make travel hazardous.

&&

LAT...LON 3654 12004 3658 12011 3674 11993 3669 11981
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 226DEG 17KT 3662 11999

BSO