Includes Mariposa and Madera Counties and Yosemite

March 6, 2023 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports the combination of heavy rainfall and rapid snow melt will cause water levels to rise on area rivers and streams, resulting in the possibility of flooding in the Sierra Nevada foothills and Sierra Nevada below 8,000 feet Thursday night through Saturday.

Hydrologic Outlook

Hydrologic Outlook
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1254 AM PST Mon Mar 6 2023

...HEAVY RAINFALL AND RAPID SNOW MELT LEADING TO A THREAT OF
FLOODING THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
FOOTHILLS AND SIERRA NEVADA BELOW 8000 FEET...

* For the Sierra Nevada foothills and Sierra Nevada below 8000 feet

* From Thursday night through Saturday

A strong storm system over the Eastern Pacific Ocean will approach
the coast of the Pacific Northwest Thursday night and Friday. An
abundance of subtropical moisture will move inland over Central
California along the southern periphery of this storm system
Thursday night through Friday night. Mild air associated with this
air mass will cause snow levels to rise to around 8000 feet Friday.
In addition, heavy rainfall and the mild air mass will result in
rapid snow melt in areas that have received several feet of snow in
the past few weeks.

In the Sierra Nevada foothills, two to four inches of rain is
possible Thursday night through Saturday. In the Sierra Nevada below
8000 feet, three to five inches of rain is possible Thursday through
Saturday. The majority of this rain should fall Friday and Friday
night.

The combination of heavy rainfall and rapid snow melt will cause
water levels to rise on area rivers and streams Thursday night
through Saturday. Persons living near rivers and streams should
closely monitor water levels and be ready to move to higher ground
if the threat of flooding becomes imminent. If you live in a flood
prone area or near rivers and streams, now would be a good time to
prepare and have an evacuation plan in place in the event high water
becomes a threat to your safety.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite media source for
further hydrologic updates. You can also follow us on Facebook and
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