Special Weather Statement, NWS Eureka, CA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
304 PM PST Sun Feb 18 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Showers and gusty wind will continue this evening. Even
stronger and longer lasting showers, wind, and possible thunderstorm
are expected Monday with the strongest impacts in Lake and Mendocino
Counties.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Active weather will impact NW California over the next
48 hours. A strong low pressure system slowly approaching shore will
bring multiple bands of rain showers and gusty winds. Sunday
afternoon and evening, rain showers and moderately gusty wind will
be the main concerns. Already this afternoon, a band of showers is
evidents right along shore with gusts observed in excess of 50 mph
on high coastal ridges.

Headed into the evening, showers will be focused in Mendocino and
Lake Counties. 0.1 to 0.4 inches of rain has already fallen. High
resolution models show 0.8 to 1.4 inches of additional rain is most
likely over the next 12 hours. Though not a huge amount of rain on
its own, the HREF is flagging 1 hour rain rates of 0.3 to 0.5 inches
per hour. Such rates hold the potential to generate moderate urban
and small stream flooding, especially with already saturated soils.
Winds are expected to peak late this afternoon with gusts on high
ridges up to 60 mph. Though ridges will be windy, generally stable
air near the surface will prevent widespread mixing into lower
valleys. Most interior valleys should only see brief gusts this
afternoon  and evening up to 40 mph. Otherwise, warm air will
maintain snowlevels above 4500 feet, keeping any heavy snow to the
highest elevations of the Trinity Alps.

Heading into Monday, much more dynamic weather is expected. The most
recent runs of the ECMWF EFI have flagged unusually strong (>0.9
values) instability and winds over the southern half of the area.
Although 900 mb winds struggle to get much above 55 kts, the very
high instability is likely to mix high wind gusts to lower
elevations than normal. The factors best align in Southern Humboldt,
Mendocino, and Lake Counties. While NBM does not show any single
wind gust hour over 40 mph, the 90th percentile peak wind gusts do
show gusts in excess of 50 mph as low as Clearlake and parts of the
Russian River Valley. Gusts above 60 mph are possible at higher
elevations. In addition, strong wind gusts paired with instability
are likely to be sustained over a long period of time through Monday
afternoon. These sustained winds in combination of very saturated
soils will lead to an enhanced risk of widespread wind damage. Though
impacts are unlikely to be quite as strong as the windstorm on
February 4th, widespread power outages are possible, especially in
Lake County.

Beyond wind, precipitation will continue to be a threat on Monday.
Wile generally mild precipitable water (around 0.8 inches) will
limit absolute rain potential, model soundings appear unusually
conducive to the production thunderstorms. Even as far inland as
UKI, the NAM is showing a deep unstable layer up to 25 kft with
substantial low level windshear. While any widespread thunder is
unlikely, such conditions could help create unusually strong
thunderstorms, especially along the Mendocino coast. Additionally,
NBM is only showing 24 hour precipitation of 1 to 3 inches of rain
(depending on elevation) across the southern half of the area with
even less rain further north. That said, any convective enhancement
could generate rain rates over 0.5 inches per hour, maintaining a
risk of urban and small stream flooding through Tuesday. As for
River Flooding, the CNRFC does show Clear Lake reaching monitor
stage (over 8 feet) by late Monday with a 30% chance of flood stage
for the Russian River at Hopland. Any River flooding is expected to
be minor but long lasting into Tuesday.

Thankfully, showers and wind will gradually decrease through
Tuesday. Though lingering showers could bring up to another inch of
rain through Wednesday throughout the area, additional impacts
should be minor. A brief break is expected late in the week, though
most cluster ensemble members show yet another cutoff low (albeit
most likely weaker) impacting the area late next weekend. /JHW

&&

.AVIATION...A cold front associated with a relatively strong low
pressure system continues to progress from the southwest toward
Northwest California. Mendocino and Lake counties are first to be
affected with strong southerly to south-southeasterly winds and
moderate rain, with the potential for bouts of heavy rain. MVFR to
potentially IFR conditions could be possible with the heavier rain.
By early afternoon winds and rain will arrive at KACV and KCEC. The
coastal barrier jet aloft with wind speeds of 45 to 65 knots will
keep low level windshear a concern at all terminals into late this
afternoon. At all terminals, gusts of 25 to 30 knots are possible
with the winds decreasing into later this evening before ramping
back up tomorrow morning as the low pressure system approaches the
coast and stalls. After the front passes late this afternoon and
evening, showery conditions are expected to last through tonight
with a chance for isolated thunderstorms. Rain and wind from the
approaching low is expected by tomorrow morning. /JLW

&&

.MARINE...A front is passing through the marine zones this afternoon
bringing moderate to heavy rain and gusty southerly winds. The gales
and isolated areas of storm force winds will end as the front moves
on land early this evening. The northern inner waters will evade the
strongest winds due to the direction of the winds. Models indicate
that seas will still remain steep with advisory wind conditions
persisting overnight for all zones. As the parent low pressure
system moves closer to the coast tomorrow morning, another period of
gale force southerly winds are expected for all marine zones and
will persist in the northern outer waters until Tuesday morning.
After the parent low moves off to the north of Northwest
California’s coastal waters, winds will drop below advisory level
and remain there through the rest of the work week.

A westerly swell will continue to slowly diminish into tomorrow
morning. A second longer period swell is expected to move into the
waters at 4 to 6 feet at 16 to 17 seconds and build to 11 feet at 14
seconds by tomorrow evening. This will gradually diminish through
the week with another swell building in Tuesday night. /JLW

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
     Wind Advisory from 8 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Tuesday for
     CAZ101>103.

     Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for CAZ103>106-108>115.

     Wind Advisory until 6 PM PST this evening for CAZ104>115.

     High Wind Warning from 5 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Tuesday for
     CAZ104-114-115.

     High Wind Warning from 8 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Tuesday for
     CAZ105-106-108.

     Winter Storm Warning until 3 PM PST Tuesday for CAZ107.

     High Wind Warning from 5 AM to 10 PM PST Monday for
     CAZ109>113.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PST Monday for PZZ450.

     Gale Warning from 9 AM Monday to 3 AM PST Tuesday for
     PZZ450.

     Gale Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for PZZ455-470-
     475.

     Gale Warning from 3 AM to 9 PM PST Monday for PZZ455.

     Gale Warning from 3 AM Monday to 9 AM PST Tuesday for
     PZZ470.

     Gale Warning from 3 AM to 3 PM PST Monday for PZZ475.

&&

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eureka CA
1212 AM PST Mon Feb 19 2024

CAZ103-104-190845-
Southwestern Humboldt CA-Northern Humboldt Coast CA-
1212 AM PST Mon Feb 19 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTY
THROUGH 1245 AM PST...

At 1211 AM PST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Honeydew to 25 miles southwest of
Petrolia. Movement was north at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Petrolia and Capetown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4049 12438 4051 12438 4052 12421 4023 12416
      4019 12427 4026 12436 4033 12435 4035 12436
      4039 12437 4042 12440 4044 12441
TIME...MOT...LOC 0811Z 190DEG 34KT 4027 12415 4005 12462

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

RPA