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Next 12 Hours

Forecast data from the National Digital Forecast Database.

5 Day Forecast

• Monday
• 
• High: 34 °
• Low: 27 °
• Snow Showers

• Tuesday
• 
• High: 38 °
• Low: 32 °
• Chance of Snow

• Wednesday
• 
• High: 40 °
• Low: 29 °
• Chance of Snow

• Thursday
• 
• High: 47 °
• Low: 31 °
• Partly Cloudy

• Friday
• 
• High: 50 °
• Low: 31 °
• Partly Cloudy

Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford California 
936 PM PST sun Feb 12 2012 


Synopsis... 
yet another system will increase the threat of valley rain and 
higher elevation snow tonight through Monday. Higher than usual 
desert winds and possibility of desert rain can be expected with 
this systems passage. 


&& 


Discussion... 
the next frontal system is currently pushing through northern 
California. Associated precipitation is tracking southward over 
northern portions of our area...where a few valley locations have 
measured a hundredth of an inch so far...a bit more at higher 
elevations. Snow level is currently around 5500 feet and will 
lower during the night. A Winter Weather Advisory for the Sierra 
from Kings County to Yosemite tonight through Monday remains in 
effect. Gusty winds associated with an initial surge of upper 
level energy picked up in the Mojave area for a few hours this 
evening but have subsided a bit now. The winds will increase again 
Monday as the system moves through the region and onshore surface 
pressure gradients increase. A Wind Advisory is in effect for the 
Kern County mountain and desert areas from noon Monday through 
8 PM. Isolated thunderstorms still can not be totally ruled out 
around the Central Valley tomorrow afternoon as models bring the 
cold pool aloft overhead. Models continue to show a brief break 
Tuesday ahead of the next system prognosticated to move across our area 
Wednesday. No changes to the forecast this evening. 


&& 


Previous discussion... /issued 346 PM PST sun Feb 12 2012/ 


Discussion...short wave ridging providing dry conditions today 
but low level moisture and northwest flow has resulted in abundant 
stratocumulus development over the much of the San Joaquin Valley 
and adjacent Sierra/Tehachapi slopes. Satellite water vapor imagery 
shows the next trough just crossing inside 130w off the pacnw coast. 
The trough will become a closed low over norcal overnight then 
slide south-southeast over central California on Monday afternoon. Precipitation 
will move in from the north late this evening and spread southward 
overnight as the front pushes through. Conditions then become 
showery on Monday afternoon under the cold pool aloft. 500 mb temperatures of 
-30 degree c over the central San Joaquin Valley could lead to some 
towering cumulus and potentially isolated T-storms if there is 
some clearing in the afternoon. But relative humidity forecasts suggest low/middle cloud 
shield should inhibit this threat. The bulk of precipitation will 
occur from Fresno County north where around a quarter of an inch 
of rainfall is possible in the central San Joaquin Valley. Snow 
levels will begin around 5500 feet around Yosemite tonight then 
cold air advection will bring snow levels down to around 4000 feet 
on Monday. Up to 8 inches of snowfall is possible over the higher 
elevations of the southern Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings 
Canyon where a Winter Weather Advisory GOES into effect at midnight 
tonight through 8 PM Monday. Lighter amounts...up to 4 inches is 
expected over the Tulare County portion of the Sierra Nevada. By 
Monday night snow levels will drop into the foothills around 3000 
feet but showers will be diminishing and little accumulation is 
expected at these lower elevations. Snow levels will also fall to 
around 3500 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains Monday night. Light 
snow accumulations of around an inch will be possible along the 
Tehachapi Pass and the Grapevine. The low shifts southeast of the 
district Tuesday with wrap around moisture providing just a slight 
chance of some lingering mountain showers. There remains lots of 
uncertainty midweek with significant differences not only between 
models but within each model's runs. Given that the 12z GFS & European model (ecmwf) 
trended a little closer with a trough/upper low dropping south over 
the area Tuesday night- Wednesday...have slight to low chance probability of precipitation in for 
now. Short wave ridging should provide dry conditions and a warming 
trend Thursday-Friday...then perhaps a return to cooler and unsettled 
weather next weekend. 


Increasing low level winds will produce gusty conditions over the 
mountains tonight through Monday. In addition...surface pressure 
gradients will ramp up again and a Wind Advisory has been issued 
for the Kern County mountains and desert from noon Monday through 
10 PM Monday night...where gusts up to 50 miles per hour will be possible 
through and below passes and canyons. 


&& 


Aviation... 
over the San Joaquin Valley...areas of MVFR ceilings through 10z Monday. From 
10z-18z Monday...widespread MVFR and local IFR developing in 
clouds and rain and continuing through 06z Tuesday. Over the southern 
Sierra and Tehachapi Mountains...areas of MVFR and local IFR ceilings in 
clouds and precipitation through 12z Monday becoming widespread 
IFR ceilings and mountain obscurations in clouds and precipitation by 12z Monday 
and continuing through 06z Tuesday. Gusty winds through passes and canyons. 
Over the Kern County deserts...VFR through 18z Monday. From 18z to 06z Tuesday 
local MVFR ceilings in -shra. Gusty surface winds to 45 kts Monday afternoon 
and evening. 


&& 


Air quality issues... 
none. 


&& 


Hnx watches/warnings/advisories... 
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 8 PM PST Monday 
caz096. 


Wind Advisory from noon to 10 PM PST Monday caz095-098-099. 


&& 


$$ 


Public...jeb 
AVN/fw...ds 
synopsis...pj 


Weather.Gov/Hanford