Projected rainfall totals for Monday through Tuesday for Mariposa: 1.50" to 2.00"
Projected rainfall totals for Monday through Tuesday for Oakhurst: 1.50" to 2.00"
Projected rainfall totals for Monday through Tuesday for Yosemite Valley: 1.00" to 1.50"
March 15, 2020 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports the majority of this projected precipitation will fall Monday.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Southern Sierra Nevada above 4,000 feet.
Accumulating snow is likely Monday night and Tuesday morning at pass levels in Kern County, including Tejon Pass along Interstate 5 and Tehachapi Pass along Highway 58.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 401 AM PDT Sun Mar 15 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will move down the California coast through Tuesday with most areas having a chance of lower elevation rain and mountain snow. The low will then move east of the area by midweek; however, a trough of low pressure will remain over the West for a continued cool and potentially showery pattern. && .DISCUSSION...Scattered light rain showers have been falling in parts of the San Joaquin Valley and into the Sierra foothills so far tonight. A few spots have been gusting over 35 miles per hour in the West Side Hills, so will keep the Wind Advisory going through this morning. The upper-level low remains centered off the coast of Northern California and has made little southward progression since yesterday. Expect shower activity to gradually spread southward by later today, while precipitation amounts will likely increase by later this afternoon and into the evening. Otherwise, expect a relatively cool day today. More widespread precipitation will spread further south by Monday, including into Kern County, as the low pressure system and associated trough move southward off the California coast. Due to the slow progress of the low pressure system, it now appears forecast precipitation amounts could lower a bit for today through Tuesday. Nonetheless, snow projections remain around 3 to 4 feet in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, mainly north of Kings Canyon NP. Amounts of one to 2 feet are possible in Sequoia NP at 7000 feet. Rain amounts reach anywhere from 0.50 to 1.00 inch in the southern and western sides of the San Joaquin Valley, though could be as high as one to two inches on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley from Fresno County northward. Expect 2 to 3 inches in the Sierra foothills from Mariposa to Fresno County and around 1.00 to 1.50 inches in the foothills of Tulare County. Most of the precipitation is expected to occur on Monday throughout much of the Central California interior. This low will continue its progression on Monday into Tuesday and will likely be off the coast of Southern California. Colder air will flow southward into Kern County, and the threat for accumulating snow on the mountain passes remains. A dusting up to 2 inches of snow is still possible on the Grapevine and Tehachapi Pass, mainly on Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Precipitation is expected to taper off by Tuesday afternoon, though a cold airmass will likely be in place over much of Central California that could kick off some instability showers, while a thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. For Wednesday and beyond, cool and unsettled weather will remain as models show the trough remaining over much of the Western U.S. Showers will continue to be a possibility until at least next weekend, though there may be some brief breaks at times later in the week. It does not appear any well above average temperatures will return over the next seven days like what occurred on some days during the last couple of weeks.Source: NWS
