Flash Flood Warning 34, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1004 AM PDT Sun May 21 2023

.SYNOPSIS...Hot temperatures continue over the forecast area the
next few days as high pressure aloft prevails. An upper level
disturbance is forecast to move over Central California by the
middle of next week, taking afternoon highs back to near normal.
Afternoon thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada and Kern Desert
continue the next few days, but will decrease significantly in
coverage later in the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...High temperatures as much as 8-10 degrees above
normal continue today and tomorrow as high pressure continues.
Easterly flow is allowing appreciable moisture and instability
over the mountains and desert portions of Kern County. This has
allowed for thunderstorms to form in the afternoon lately. That
pattern will continue for a couple more days. Heavy rain may occur
in cells that form this afternoon, posing an isolated flooding
risk through the evening. This pattern is expected to continue on
Monday.

By Tuesday, the ridge of high pressure is expected to begin
breaking down as global ensemble models show a disturbance a loft
moving over Central California. This disturbance passing overhead will
mark the start of a cooling trend over Central California. Breezy
conditions through the wind-prone regions of Central California
by Tuesday and Wednesday evening are forecast as marine air begins
to enter the district, along with an on shore pressure gradient.
With this new air mass/flow pattern aloft, afternoon thunderstorms
are likely to be confined to the crests around YNP Tuesday
through the rest of the week. Near normal temperatures are
forecast for the San Joaquin Valley and adjacent foothills
Thursday through Sunday of next week as a troughing pattern looks
to set up through that time period.

&&

.AVIATION...Areas of MVFR and mountain obscuring IFR in scattered
showers and thunderstorms over the mountains between 19Z Sun and
03Z Mon, otherwise VFR conditions will prevail throughout the
Central CA interior for the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
ISSUED:  05/20/2023 12:45
EXPIRES: 05/21/2023 23:59
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
and/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

AB

weather.gov/hanford

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
326 PM PDT Sun May 21 2023

CAZ318-323-325-326-212300-
San Joaquin River Canyon CA-Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra CA-
Yosemite NP outside of the valley CA-Upper San Joaquin River CA-
326 PM PDT Sun May 21 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Madera
County through 400 PM PDT...

At 326 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm,
located about 17 miles east of Yosemite South Entrance, moving to
the southwest at around 20 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Chilkoot Meadow, Clover Meadow Wilderness Office, Minarets and
Graveyard Meadow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 3761 11931 3748 11917 3734 11944 3746 11958
TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 053DEG 22KT 3751 11932

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

BS