Special Weather Statement, NWS Hanford, CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
937 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

1. Wind Advisories and a Lake Wind Advisory in effect through
Monday for the Kern River Valley, Indian Wells Valley, and
Mojave Desert. Wind Advisory for the Mojave Desert Slopes in
effect through Tuesday morning.

2. 15 to 35 percent chance of thunderstorms over the Sierra
Nevada Sunday and Monday, decreasing to 10 to 15 percent on
Tuesday. 5 to 20% chance across the Valley and into the
foothills during this period.

3. Cooler, unsettled weather Sunday until Tuesday with snow
above 7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada.

4. Gusty winds along the Sierra Crest and eastern Tulare and
Kern Counties.

5. Warming trend on Wednesday into next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

A cutoff low is currently moving down the Pacific Coast before
moving onshore early this coming week. This system will bring
near-normal temperatures today (mid 70s to low 80s in the Valley)
and below-normal temperatures Monday and Tuesday (high 60s to
low 70s across the Valley) before a major warmup beginning
Wednesday. In the meantime, there is a 15 to 35 percent chance
of thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada Sunday and Monday,
decreasing to 10 to 15 percent on Tuesday and 5 to 20% across
the Valley and into the foothills during this period. In the
Sierra Nevada, there is a 20 to 60 percent chance of 4 inches of
snow above 8,000 feet. There is a 5 to 15 percent chance of a
tenth of an inch of rain in the Valley through Tuesday, with the
best chances in the eastern half. Winds will be a concern along
the Sierra Crest and in eastern Kern and Tulare Counties. There
is a 60 to 100 percent chance of gusts of at least 40 mph in
these areas today. There is also a 50-100% chance of gusts of
at least 40 mph along the crests of the Coast Range today.
Monday, the risk shifts to eastern Tulare and Kern Counties,
with a 50 to 100 percent chance of gusts exceeding 40 mph.
Tuesday, this risk will expand to include the Sierra Crests.
There are multiple Wind and Lake Wind Advisories in effect
through Tuesday morning.

As the low pressure system clear the area on Wednesday, a ridge
will quickly build over the area, bringing warm and dry
conditions. This will be bring steadily increasing temperatures,
with a greater than 40 percent chance of highs of 95 or higher
across most of the Valley by next Sunday. Current CPC guidance
indicates a 90-100 percent of above-average temperatures in the
6-to-10-day period, and our first triple-digit temperatures may
be on the horizon.

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours over Central
California, except in and near thunderstorms, where MVFR and IFR
conditions can be expected.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...

Minor air quality issues may affect vulnerable populations
Sunday afternoon.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is high.

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 until 8 AM PDT Tuesday for CAZ338.
Lake Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT Monday for CAZ332.
Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT Monday for CAZ337-339.
&&

public...AC
aviation....AC

weather.gov/hanford

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
439 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

CAZ323-040015-
Yosemite NP outside of the valley CA-
439 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN TUOLUMNE COUNTY
THROUGH 515 PM PDT...

At 438 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 19
miles south of Kennedy Meadow, or 20 miles southwest of Twin Lakes,
moving northwest at 10 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...
Paradise Meadow and Lower Kibbie Ridge.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 3804 11956 3795 11967 3803 11988 3804 11987
      3805 11988 3809 11984 3810 11973 3812 11971
      3814 11966 3814 11964
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 134DEG 10KT 3803 11969

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

JPK

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
511 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

CAZ323-040045-
Yosemite NP outside of the valley CA-
511 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN TUOLUMNE COUNTY
THROUGH 545 PM PDT...

At 511 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles southeast of Pinecrest, or 18 miles south of Sonora Pass,
moving northwest at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern
Tuolumne County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel
clouds. This type of funnel cloud is harmless, but on rare occasions
they can briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 mph. If a
funnel cloud is spotted move indoors and report your sighting to the
National Weather Service.

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 3808 11964 3801 11971 3807 11986 3808 11985
      3809 11983 3810 11973 3813 11970
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 131DEG 8KT 3807 11974

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
533 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

CAZ328-040100-
Kings Canyon NP CA-
533 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTY
THROUGH 600 PM PDT...

At 533 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of Big Pine Creek Campground, or 12 miles south of
South Lake. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary.

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...
Le Conte Canyon Ranger Station.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 3696 11860 3713 11875 3715 11866 3714 11865
      3714 11860 3712 11857 3699 11852
TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 155DEG 3KT 3700 11857

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

JPK

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
733 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

CAZ325-326-040315-
San Joaquin River Canyon CA-Upper San Joaquin River CA-
733 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL MADERA AND NORTH
CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTIES THROUGH 815 PM PDT...

At 733 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 19
miles southwest of Mammouth Mountain, or 20 miles southwest of
Mammoth Lakes, moving northwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch 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...
Clover Meadow Wilderness Office, Mount Tom, Minarets, and Graveyard
Meadow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 3740 11907 3733 11915 3744 11946 3759 11928
TIME...MOT...LOC 0233Z 134DEG 12KT 3740 11918

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
810 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

CAZ318-323-325-326-040345-
San Joaquin River Canyon CA-Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra CA-
Yosemite NP outside of the valley CA-Upper San Joaquin River CA-
810 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN MADERA AND NORTH
CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTIES THROUGH 845 PM PDT...

At 810 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 20
miles east of Yosemite South Entrance, moving west at 10 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...
Chilkoot Meadow, Graveyard Meadow, and Minarets.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 3744 11918 3735 11923 3742 11955 3759 11946
TIME...MOT...LOC 0310Z 111DEG 9KT 3741 11929

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

JPK