Projected Precipitation for Mariposa 0.50" - 1.00"
Projected Precipitation for Oakhurst 1.00" - 1.50"
Projected Precipitation for Yosemite Valley 1.00" - 1.50"
December 25, 2021 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a storm system will impact Central California Saturday afternoon into early Sunday morning.
Snow levels will fall to around 2,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills Saturday night.
Snow levels will fall to pass elevations in the Kern County mountains Saturday night.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 504 AM PST Sat Dec 25 2021 .SYNOPSIS...A very wet weather pattern will continue into next week with brief breaks as several weather disturbances move across the Central California Interior. Heavy mountain snow and significant lower elevation rain will occur through the middle of next week. Snow levels will occasionally lower into the lower foothills and the mountain passes through Kern County. && .DISCUSSION... Central California is currently experiencing a brief break from recent rain and high elevation snow. The next approaching low pressure system is pushing into the northwest coast and associated shower activity is currently tracking inland to the north of our area. Models spread these showers southward into central California by later this morning and periods of moderate to occasionally heavy rain will continue into Sunday morning. With a few feet of additional snowfall accumulations expected in the Sierra Nevada, the Winter Storm Warning continues there. This storm is colder than the last system and snow levels will lower into the foothills and several inches of snow is expected to accumulate there, with local amounts up to 1 foot possible through Sunday morning. Mountain passes in Kern county could see a few inches of accumulating snow as well. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the foothills and Kern County mountain zones this afternoon through Sunday morning. Behind this system, another trough will drop out of the northeast Pacific and begin impacting our area by Sunday evening as rain and mountain snow push southward. This cold storm system will also drop snow levels down around 2000 ft and likely lead to impactful snow accumulations in the lower foothill communities and on the Kern mountain passes. This has prompted a Winter Storm Watch for the foothills and Kern County mountains Sunday evening through Monday night. The Winter Storm Warning in effect for the higher Sierra zones has meanwhile been extended through Monday evening in response to this next incoming system, After another break on Tuesday, model solutions are similar in showing another storm system impacting our area by the middle of next week. Precipitation amounts with this system are progged to be lower than the previous systems. && .AVIATION...MVFR conditions are likely in and near showers over the next 24 hours. Mountain obscurations with areas of IFR conditions are expected in the Sierra Nevada through at least the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... None.
Source: NWS
