June 3, 2021 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a few thunderstorms are possible in the blue shaded area this afternoon.
This includes primarily the higher elevations of the Sierra.
In addition to dangerous cloud to ground lightning, some thunderstorms can bring small hail, gusty winds and briefly heavy rain.
When clouds grow ominous and threatening, be ready to seek shelter, preferably indoors.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 450 AM PDT Thu Jun 3 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Triple digit heat can be expected over much of the San Joaquin Valley, lower foothills and the Kern County desert through the end of the week. There is a slight chance of afternoon and early evening showers and thunderstorms near the Sierra crest today and a few showers are possible near the Sierra crest on Friday. Otherwise, dry weather will prevail over the area for the next several days. High temperatures will trend lower each day Saturday through early next week and will be below normal by Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION...The large high amplitude ridge that has been responsible for the near record heat over our area for the past three days is now centered over central CA this morning and will provide our area with another day of widespread triple digit heat although most of the record high maximum temperatures look safe for today. Probabilistic guidance is indicating that Fresno has only a 3 percent chance of tying or breaking it`s record high temperature of 107 DEG F today while Bakersfield has zero chance of tying or breaking it`s record high temperature of 109 DEG F today. Although most of today`s records appear to be safe, temepratures remain well above normal for early June and heat impacts will continue to be felt across the area. An excessive Heat warning remains in effect for the Kern County Deserts and for the Bakersfield area from noon today until 800 PM PDT today while a Heat Advisory remains in effect for much of the remainder of the San Joaquin Valley and for the West Side Hills as well as the Sierra foothills from noon today until 800 PM PDT today. The other concern for today besides the triple digit heat is the potential for afternoon and evening thunderstorms over the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada today. The ridge is progged to begin shifting east tonight while an onshore flow becomes established across our area. Lowering heights and thicknesses will result in less coverage of near record high temperatures on Friday as temperatures trend downward. SREF is indicating an onshore flow becomes established on Friday as well which will push most of the lingering moisture over the Sierra Nevada to the east of our area. on Satruday, an upper low is progged to drop southward near 130W while the ridge continues to shift east and further away from our area. This will allow for a few more degrees of cooling with highs in the San Joaquin Valley expected to be near the century mark on Saturday. The medium range models and their ensemble means are indicating a zonal westerly flow over the PAC NW Sunday through providing central CA with a more pronounced onshore flow. This will allow for a significant cooling trend to take place across our area with daytime temperatures plunging to near normal levels by Monday. A fairly strong upper low off the PAC NW coast will maintain a strong onshore flow pattern across central CA on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although moisture sufficient for precipitation will remain well to the north of our area, temperatures will continue lower and are expected to be slightly below normal for the middle part of next week. && .AVIATION...Areas of MVFR and local mountain obscuring IFR in the Sierra Nevada in showers and thunderstorms between 18Z Thu and 01Z Fri. Otherwise, VFR conditions can be expected throughout the central CA interior for at least the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES...On Thursday June 3 2021... Unhealthy for sensitive groups in Fresno... Kern and Tulare Counties and Sequoia National Park and Forest. Further information is available at Valleyair.org
Source: NWS
