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000
FXUS66 KHNX 122224
AFDHNX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
324 PM PDT Fri Apr 12 2024

.UPDATE...
Air Quality Section Updated

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&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Warmer than average temperatures continue through today, then
steeply drop between today and tomorrow.
2. A disturbance will move through Central California late
Friday through the weekend, resulting in cooler temperatures, a
chance for rain in the San Joaquin Valley, and snow above 6,000
feet in the Sierra Nevada and Kern County Mountains.
3. A few strong thunderstorms may develop today and tomorrow
afternoon and evening.
4. Strong wind potential occurs mainly in the afternoons and
evenings on Friday and Saturday in eastern Kern County,
including the desert floor and slopes.


&&

.DISCUSSION...
Today’s temperatures will again be roughly 10 degrees above
normal for this time of year, with the San Joaquin Valley seeing
values in the high 80s this afternoon. As a low pressure system
begins to impact the area, it will cause a steep drop off in
temperatures from today to tomorrow. Tomorrow, high temperatures
will be nearly 20 degrees cooler than what they are today, with
values in the high 60s to low 70s expected.

The low pressure system mentioned above will bring rain to the
San Joaquin Valley and snow to the Sierra Nevada and Kern County
mountains. Much of this precipitation will fall Saturday
afternoon through evening. The northern central San Joaquin
Valley, coastal range, and foothills could see up to an inch of
rain, whereas the western and southern central San Joaquin
Valley could see up to a half inch of rain. Here are
probabilities that certain areas will see a half inch of rain
tomorrow:
Bakersfield: 6%
Fresno: 41%
Hanford: 11%
Madera: 31%
Merced: 66%
Porterville: 6%
Visalia: 6%

Snow will fall in the Sierra Nevada and Kern County mountains.
Areas above 6,000 feet could see 8-12 inches of snow, and local
higher elevations could see up to 18 inches of snow. Snow levels
will start at around 6,000 feet, then drop to 4,000 feet late
Saturday night into Sunday morning before going back up to 6,000
feet at the end of the event on Monday morning. Much of the
snow will fall Saturday afternoon and evening. There is a Winter
Weather Advisory out for elevations 6,000 feet and above from
11am to 11pm on Saturday. Here are probabilities that certain
areas will see 8 inches of snow or more through Monday:
Tioga Pass: 25%
Yosemite Valley: 23%
Badger Pass Ski Area: 88%
Wawona: 27%
Huntington Lake: 89%
Shaver Lake: 54%
Lodgepole: 72%
Grant Grove: 51%

There is also the chance for thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada
and adjacent foothills today, and in the San Joaquin Valley and
Coastal Range tomorrow. Upper level divergence alongside lifted
index and convective available potential energy values support
the formation of a few strong thunderstorms today and tomorrow
afternoon and evening, with tomorrow seeing the best chances.
Main threats with thunderstorms include small hail, wind gusts
near 45 mph, cloud to ground lightning strikes, and localized
heaving rainfall that could lead to flooding.

Additionally, strong winds will precede the rain through today,
particularly in the Coastal Range. Gusts could reach up to 55
mph, and as such, a Wind Advisory is valid for the Coastal Range
from 4 pm this afternoon through 11 am tomorrow morning. The
rest of the forecast area will see elevated winds through the
same period, though not at an advisory level.

As the low pressure system moves out of the forecast area and
weakens on Monday, ridging will take its place and bring warmer
temperatures back alongside drier weather.

&&


.AVIATION...
Afternoon thunderstorms between 18Z today and 02Z tomorrow for
the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills could result in
localized MVFR conditions. Rain in the San Joaquin Valley and
snow in the Sierra could cause MVFR conditions after 18Z
tomorrow. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected across the
Central California interior for at least the next 24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...

None.

&&

.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...
Wind Advisory until 11 AM PDT Saturday for CAZ300-308-313.
Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday for
CAZ323-325>331-333-334-336.
&&

$$

Serrato

weather.gov/hanford