Projected Precipitation for Mariposa 4.00" - 6.00"
Projected Precipitation for Oakhurst 4.00" - 6.00"
Projected Precipitation for Yosemite Valley 6.00" - 8.00"
December 11 ,2021 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a strong storm system will bring periods of moderate to heavy precipitation early next week.
Precipitation will begin Sunday night with the heaviest ran and snow expected Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon.
Snow levels will be around 5000 to 6000 feet for most of the event but will fall to around 3000 feet as the precipitation winds down Tuesday night.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 402 AM PST Sat Dec 11 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Dry and cool conditions will prevail today. Sub freezing conditions are likely in the Kern Desert again tonight. A slow moving storm system may bring significant precipitation from late Sunday night through Tuesday evening. Another storm is expected to bring additional precipitation to the area on Thursday. && .DISCUSSION...A cold northwest flow ahead of a high pressure center off the CA coast is providing for the coldest temperature readings in the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County Deserts in almost 10 months. Temperatures across the Kern County Deserts have already plunged below 28 Deg F at several stations and the Hard Freeze Warning that had been issued for the Mojave Desert and the Indian Wells Valley should easily verify this morning. Across the San Joaquin Valley, temperatures have already dropped into the mid 30s at several stations and are expected to drop below the freezing mark by daybreak. As a result, much of the San Joaquin valley is expected to have it`s first freeze of the season. Skies are mainly clear across our area with some thin high clouds noted by satellite imagery. The fog loop is showing a narrow strip of fog from Fresno southward through far western Tulare County, but the fog will be localized this morning due to the prevailing dry airmass. Following a mostly sunny and relatively cold day today, the flow aloft is progged to shift from northwest to west tonight and mid/high clouds will increase from north to south as a strong storm drops southward out of the Gulf of AK and takes aim at central CA. The increased clouds will result in temperatures tonight remaining above the freezing mark at most locations. However, the Kern County Deserts are expected to remain mainly clear with light winds. This will allow for good radiational cooling to take place once again and another night of temperatures below 28 Deg F is possible. A Hard Freeze Watch remains in effect for the Kern County Deserts for tonight and Sunday morning. The storm is progged to deepen off the PAC NW coast on Sunday which will push precipitation southward into central CA during the day. Precipitation will be possible from Fresno northward by Sunday afternoon with the snow level between 5000 and 6000 feet. The precipitation is expected to push further southward on Sunday night and become more widespread across our area by Monday morning. A very wet period is expected across our area Monday through Tuesday evening. Latest QPF progs are indicating 1 to 2 inches of rain across most of the San Joaquin Valley during this time frame. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain is expected over the Sierra foothills and 3 to 7 inches of liquid precipitation across the higher Sierra Nevada. Heavy snowfall is expected above 5000 feet and several feet of new snow are likely above 7000 feet. A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for the higher Sierra Nevada between Monday morning and Wednesday morning. Significant precipitation is also expected across the Kern County Mountains and Deserts with 1 to 2 inches of liquid precipitation in the Kern County Mountains and a half inch to an inch of rainfall in the Deserts. Snow levels are expected to remain above the major passes in Kern County until Tuesday evening, but some light snowfall is possible on the passes late Tuesday evening. The slow moving storm is expected to move out of our area on Wednesday. Another storm is progged by the medium range models to move through central CA on Thursday bringing additional precipitation to our area. The medium range ensemble means are indicating that this system will move out of our area on Friday and high pressure will bring drier conditions to our area next weekend. && .AVIATION...In the San Joaquin Valley, areas of MVFR and local IFR visibility in mist and haze through 20Z Sat. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail across the central CA interior for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES...On Saturday December 11 2021... Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno... Kern... Madera and Tulare Counties. Further information is available at Valleyair.orgSource: NWS
