June 16, 2019 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports isolated strong thunderstorms are possible along the Sierra Nevada today and Monday.
Small hail and wind gusts near 40 miles per hour are a couple of hazards associated with strong thunderstorms.
In addition to dangerous cloud to ground lightning strikes, any thunderstorm can produce intense rainfall rates, leading to localized flooding.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 300 AM PDT Sun Jun 16 2019 .SYNOPSIS...Little change in temperatures can be expected over the area today. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada today. Scattered thunderstorms are possible over the Sierra Nevada on Monday. Otherwise, dry weather will prevail through the period. A warm up is expected beginning on Monday into Thursday, with temperatures in the valley and desert once again getting above the century mark by Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION...The weak upper shortwave that crossed Norcal on Saturday is now moving across the Great Basin and away from our area. Meanwhile, WV imagery is showing another fast moving shortwave approaching the Norcal coast which may bring increased cloud cover to the northern portion of our area later this morning and provide for enough orographic lift over the Southern Sierra Nevada for isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Temperatures will remain close to yday/s readings which were slightly above seasonal normals. A weak upper low is progged to drop southward through the area on Monday which will result in increased instability over the Southern Sierra Nevada which may enhance the potential for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. WRF is continuing to indicate an easterly flow behind the upper low which may allow for some of the showers and thunderstorms to drift into the southern Sierra foothills and possibly the eastern portion of the San Joaquin Valley on Monday afternoon and evening. A large upper ridge is still progged to build eastward into the PAC NW and Norcal on Tuesday and Wednesday which will result in another round of much above normal daytime temperatures with daytime afternoon highs progged to exceed the century mark across much of the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County Deserts. Medium range models are in fairly good agreement indicating the ridge will weaken and break down by late week which will result in a cooling trend across the area.Source: NWS