Possible Thunderstorms Today for Mariposa County, Madera County Including Oakhurst and Yosemite National Park
April 6, 2020 - The National Weather Service reports a few strong thunderstorms are possible Monday in the majority of Central California, excluding the Kern County desert.
Small hail, funnel clouds, and wind gusts near 40 miles per hour are some of the 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 343 AM PDT Mon Apr 6 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Heavy rain and mountain snowfall will decrease later today as a strong winterlike storm slips further south along the California coast. Unsettled weather continues into midweek as the system swings inland across southern California. Conditions will then dry out and warm up by the end of the week into early next week. && .DISCUSSION... A potent low pressure system dropping south along the California coast has produced copius rainfall and heavy snow over much of central California Sunday into early this morning. The main area of moderate to heavy precipitation has been sagging south and is currently affecting mainly Fresno County southward. Rainfall totals so far of 3/4" to around an inch are common across the northern half of our area, with many locations in the higher terrain receiving a couple of inches. Down south, amounts range from under 1/10" to around 1/4", with a little bit more measured in the higher terrain. As much as 2-3 feet of snow has been accumulating in the higher Sierra elevations, even higher amounts in some locations. Models prog the low pressure system to continue sliding south today and Tuesday, then swinging inland near southern California by Wednesday. This will shift the threat of heaviest precipitation southward today, although increasing convective activity should develop across our area as instability increases by this afternoon. Significant snowfall should continue to accumulate in the Sierra where the Winter Storm Watch remains until 5 PM. Kern County mountains will see continued accumulating snow above 6000 ft into the evening hours and the Winter Storm Warning there remains through 11 PM tonight. Precipitation accumulation for Tuesday and Wednesday will be more modest and will occur mainly over the mountains and the southern portions of our area as the system moves by to our south. After the possibility of some lingering mountain and desert showers Thursday on the backside of the low, Friday should then begin a dry and warming period, with temperatures reaching around 10 degrees above climo by the start of next week.Source: NWS
