Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Joaquin Valley, CA

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FXUS66 KHNX 240734
AFDHNX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1234 AM PDT Sun Mar 24 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. There is a 73 percent chance of light snow along Interstate 5
over Tejon Pass this morning.

2. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Sierra
Nevada until 5 PM PDT this afternoon due to additional
accumulating snowfall up to one foot.

3. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Kern County
mountains above 5,000 feet today and tonight for periods of snow
that may cause travel difficulties.

4. Strong west wind gusts near 55 mph will persist in the Kern
County desert until 11 PM PDT this evening.

5. A few strong thunderstorms are possible throughout Central
California this afternoon.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
An upper-level area of low pressure over the Pacific Northwest
will open up into a trough of low pressure this morning. This
trough of low pressure will rapidly move southward, passing
across Central California this afternoon into this evening. The
snow level should fall to around 4,000 feet this morning, before
rising to about 5,000 feet this afternoon. There is a 73 percent
chance of a trace of snow or more over Tejon Pass this morning.
There is a 30 percent chance of one inch of snow or more over
Tejon Pass this morning. In higher elevations in the Kern County
mountains, there is a 67 percent chance of eight inches of snow
or more at Pine Mountain Club today and tonight. In addition,
there is a 63 percent chance of eight inches of snow or more at
Mount Pinos today and tonight. In the Sierra Nevada, a Winter
Storm Warning remains in effect until 5 PM PDT this afternoon.
Here are probabilities of six inches of snow or more for select
locations in the Sierra Nevada today:

Grant Grove - 69%
Lodgepole - 63%
Huntington Lake - 54%

Strong, west wind gusts near 55 mph will persist in the Kern
County desert until 11 PM PDT this evening. A Wind Advisory
remains in effect. A few strong thunderstorms are possible
throughout Central California this afternoon. The primary
thunderstorm hazards will be dangerous cloud to ground lightning
strikes, small hail, wind gusts near 45 mph, and funnel clouds.
The highest probability of thunderstorms will be confined to
areas south of Fresno County this afternoon.

A ridge of high pressure will move eastward across the Eastern
Pacific Ocean Monday. This ridge of high pressure will make
landfall over the west coast of the United States Tuesday. The
ridge of high pressure will continue to progress eastward
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The southern extent of a
trough of low pressure may pass across Central California
Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, resulting in a chance
of precipitation, mainly north of Kern County. An upper-level
area of low pressure may approach the coast of California
Friday. The next significant storm system could impact the
service area next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...
MVFR or lower conditions are likely in and near showers and
thunderstorms today. Mountain obscuring MVFR or lower conditions
will persist in the majority of the Sierra Nevada and Kern
County mountains tonight.

&&

.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 PM PDT this evening for CAZ337>339.
Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for CAZ323-
326>331.
Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM PDT Monday for CAZ333>336.

&&

$$

Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...BS
PIO/DSS........................SM

weather.gov/hanford


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