February 28, 2019 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a strong storm system could impact Central California Tuesday through Wednesday of next week, resulting in substantial precipitation and a moderate to high threat of significant flooding in the Southern Sierra Nevada below 9,000 feet and in the Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, and Tulare County foothills.
The snow level should be at around 9,000 feet.
Hydrologic Outlook
HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK National Weather Service HANFORD CA 1033 AM PST Wed Feb 27 2019 ...HEAVY RAINFALL AND A THREAT OF FLOODING IS POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK... A COUPLE MORE STORM SYSTEMS WILL IMPACT THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR DURING THE NEXT 7 DAYS. THE NEXT STORM WILL TRACK THROUGH THE REGION RATHER QUICKLY EARLY THIS WEEKEND AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO BRING MORE THAN LOCALIZED NUISANCE FLOODING. THERE IS CURRENTLY HIGHER CONFIDENCE THAN USUAL THAT THE STORM THAT FOLLOWS WILL BRING AN ABUNDANCE OF TROPICAL MOISTURE INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FROM MARCH 5TH INTO MARCH 6TH ALONG WITH SUBSTANTIAL PRECIPITATION AND A HIGHER THREAT OF SIGNIFICANT FLOODING... ESPECIALLY IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. MILD AIR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORM WILL KEEP SNOW LEVELS WELL ABOVE 9000 FEET DURING THIS PERIOD. HISTORICALLY...HEAVY RAIN TOTALS CAN BRING LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING AND ASSOCIATED IMPACTS SUCH AS WASHED OUT ROADS AND BRIDGES...MUD SLIDES...ROCK SLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS...PARTICULARLY IN THE VICINITY OF THE BURN SCARS. MINOR STREET FLOODING CAN OCCUR IN URBAN AREAS AND IN OTHER AREAS OF NORMALLY POOR DRAINAGE. RISING WATER LEVELS ARE ANTICIPATED ON RIVERS AND STREAMS DURING THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN WHERE THE COMBINATION OF RAIN AND MELTING SNOW WILL ACCELERATE RUNOFF. RESIDENTS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT AREAS THAT HAVE RECENTLY FLOODED OR NORMALLY FLOOD DURING HEAVY RAIN EVENTS COULD EASILY FLOOD AGAIN. IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA OR NEAR STREAMS AND RIVERS...THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO PREPARE OR HAVE AN EVACUATION PLAN IN PLACE IN THE EVENT HIGH WATER BECOMES A THREAT TO YOUR SAFETY.Source: NWS
