August 1, 2021 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a few thunderstorms will be possible over the Sierra Nevada this afternoon and linger into the evening hours.
In addition to dangerous cloud to ground lightning, small hail, wind gusts to about 40 mph and brief heavy downpours will be possible.
Hikers should be prepared to seek a safe place when skies turn ominous and thunder is heard.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 345 AM PDT Sun Aug 1 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Thunderstorms are expected in the Sierra Nevada this afternoon, but with less coverage and rainfall than on Saturday. Dry weather will prevail Monday through the work week with temperatures a few degrees above normal. && .DISCUSSION... Satellite loops are showing just a few high clouds over Kern County early this morning. Monsoon moisture remains over the region but a drier southwesterly flow aloft is developing. Regional 00z soundings still showed well above normal PWAT values but a downward trend was observed. Expect further lowering of PWAT with the 12z soundings. Showers and thunderstorms will be more isolated this afternoon and mainly confined towards the crest of the Sierra. While locally heavy rainfall is not out of the question, less moisture in the atmosphere and and a faster storm movement will significantly reduce the flash flooding threat today. The air mass continues a drying trend Monday, putting an end to the thunderstorm chances, but afternoon cumulus is still possible over the Sierra. Dry weather looks to prevail through then end of the week and into next weekend. Temperatures will remain around 4 to 7 degrees above climatological normals through Wednesday, with highs across the San Joaquin Valley in the upper 90s to around 103. A few degrees of cooling is expected on Thursday as an upper trough moves over northern California. This will lower temperatures to near climo with SJV highs in the mid 90s to around 100 degrees. Winds will generally be light but the trough on Thursday will ramp up the pressure gradient producing gusty winds, especially through the Kern County mountain passes Thursday afternoon and night. && .AVIATION... Mountain obscurations in showers and scattered thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada from 19z Sunday until 03z Monday. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail through the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... None.Source: NWS
