Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
952 AM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

1. Winter Storm Warning in effect for the Sierra Nevada above
7,000 ft until 5 PM Wednesday.

2. Wind Advisory for the Kern County desert this afternoon into
Wednesday morning and the Mojave Desert slopes from this
afternoon until Wednesday evening.

3. An approaching cut-off low brings periods of heavy rainfall
and mountain snow through this evening, with favorable
conditions for convective weather this afternoon and evening.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Currently, a band of precipitation is gradually moving inland,
based on latest radar and satellite data. Deeper convection is
offshore and moving inland over Northern California. Additional
showers and thunderstorms will develop by this afternoon in our
forecast area. As much as a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms
exists for our region for today. Northern portions, including
Fresno County northward, are now under a marginal risk for
severe thunderstorms, per the Storm Prediction Center.
Otherwise, additional snow will fall in the higher elevations of
the Sierra Nevada until Wednesday with current snow levels
around 7,000 feet lowering to 4,500 feet by late tonight.
Strong, gusty winds will also develop over the higher elevations
and into the Kern County desert by this afternoon. Active
weather continues through Wednesday afternoon with additional
chances for afternoon/evening thunderstorms, as well as gusty
winds and precipitation.

We get a break from active weather late this week with near to
above average temperatures for Thursday into Friday, but
another low pressure system brings a slight chance for
precipitation this weekend, mainly over the Sierra Nevada and
adjacent foothills. Precipitation chances will also occur into
early next week in these particular areas. Overall, we're not
looking at significant warming through next week, or similar to
what took place last weekend into yesterday.

&&

.AVIATION...
MVFR with Local IFR over the Higher Terrain of the Sierra Nevada.
Otherwise, VFR conditions expected across the area for the next 24
hours, with Valley and Foothill MVFR conditions in and around
thunderstorms through 06Z Wednesday.

&&

.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
and/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT Wednesday
for CAZ338.
Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM PDT Wednesday for CAZ323-
326>328-330.
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 7 AM PDT Wednesday
for CAZ337-339.
&&

BSO

weather.gov/hanford

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
104 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

CAZ305-306-311-212030-
West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties CA-Caruthers - San Joaquin -
Selma CA-Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore CA-
104 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN KINGS AND
SOUTHWESTERN FRESNO COUNTIES THROUGH 130 PM PDT...

At 104 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Stratford, or 19 miles southwest of Hanford, moving
northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Hanford, Lemoore, Armona, Home Garden, Stratford, Lanare, Huron,
Riverdale, Lemoore NAS, and Caruthers.

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.

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 3608 11993 3620 12009 3654 11986 3632 11957
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 223DEG 25KT 3620 11995

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

SM

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
148 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

CAZ302-303-306-307-212115-
Fresno-Clovis CA-Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma CA-Merced - Madera -
Mendota CA-Planada - Le Grand - Snelling CA-
148 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL MADERA AND CENTRAL
FRESNO COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM PDT...

At 147 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Kerman, or 13 miles south of Madera, moving northeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

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

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.

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 3665 12003 3675 12022 3702 12009 3688 11980
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 210DEG 14KT 3677 12008

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

BSO

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
419 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

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

0400 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WSW Atwater           37.34N 120.65W
04/21/2026                   Merced             CA   Emergency Mngr

            Merced County OES reported property damage
            to a farm and house.

&&