Wind Advisory 45, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
228 PM PST Tue Dec 19 2023

.SYNOPSIS...
A passing low pressure system will continue to create unsettled
conditions into Friday, with areas of rain, and significant
mountain snow above around 7000 feet. A few thunderstorms will
also be possible through Thursday, but severe thunderstorms are
not expected. Dry and seasonably cool conditions return for the
holiday weekend.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

1) Winter Storm Warning for elevations above 8000 feet through
10 AM PST Thursday morning.

2) Periods of precipitation expected through Thursday with
heavier snow above 8000 feet.

3) General thunderstorm risk through Thursday. Severe
thunderstorms are not expected.

4) Gusty winds from the southeast Wednesday afternoon and evening,
especially through the Kern County mountains into the south end of
the San Joaquin Valley.

4) Dry and seasonably cool weather will return by the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A Pacific low pressure system continues to drop southeast well off
the coast of northern California. Clouds and bands of mainly light
to moderate showers are streaming northeastward across our area
out ahead of the approaching system. Northern portions of our
Valley zones have seen rainfall amounts around 1/4 to 1/2 inch
so far, with around 3/4 of an inch in higher terrain below the
snow line at around seven to eight thousand feet. Several inches
of snow have accumulated at the higher elevations of the Sierra.
Rainfall measurements taper to just a few hundredths of an inch
in the south end of the Valley and little to none in the desert
zones.

The low pressure system is progged to continue dropping southeast
before swinging inland near northern Baja by Friday. This will
bring continued periods of precipitation to most of our area, with
heaviest amounts occurring later Wednesday and Thursday over
southwest portions as a better moisture fetch is streamed into
our region. There is a 90 percent probability that total snowfall
accumulations at the highest elevations will be at least 8 to 12
inches. One to two feet are forecasted, but there is a 1 in 10
chance that amounts could approach 3 feet. A Winter Storm Warning
for the Sierra from Yosemite through Kings Canyon and Sequoia
National Parks above 8000 feet remains in effect through 10 AM
Thursday.

The total rainfall amounts by the time the system has moved beyond
our area are expected to be around one inch in the San Joaquin
Valley and around one and one half inches in the higher terrain
below the snow level. As the moisture stream is steered northeast
across the region, there is as much as 5 to 15 percent probabilities
for excessive rainfall over south and west portions of central
California later Wednesday and Thursday, including portions of
the South Valley and the Kern County mountain and desert zones.

Southerly flow with the incoming low pressure system will produce
gusty southeast winds Wednesday afternoon and evening, with
moderate to strong gusts through the Kern County mountains and
into the south end of the Valley. Probabilities for wind gusts of
at least 30 mph are around 50 to 70 percent in the south end of
the Valley by Wednesday afternoon. This could be accompanied by
some blowing dust before enough precipitation moves in to wet the
ground sufficiently.

Conditions dry out and turn seasonably cool for the holiday
weekend under weak ridging behind the exiting system. There will
also be a potential for overnight and morning fog development in
the San Joaquin Valley during this period.

&&

.AVIATION...
MVFR to IFR conditions along with local mountain obscurations are
likely in and near showers through at least Wednesday. Otherwise,
VFR conditions will prevail throughout the Central California
interior over the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...

On Tuesday December 19 2023,  Unhealthy in Kern County. Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare
Counties.  Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning For
All in Fresno, Kern, and Madera Counties. No Burning Unless
Registered in Kings, Merced, and Tulare Counties. Burning
Discouraged in Kern (Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia
National Park and Forest.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium.
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...
Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST Thursday for CAZ323-326>328-
330.

&&

public...JEB
aviation....JEB

weather.gov/hanford