December 26, 2021 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports Winter Weather is expected across Central California as Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the higher terrain of the Sierra Nevada and will go into effect for the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada starting at 4:00 P.M. late this afternoon.
A Winter Weather Advisory will also go into effect for the Kern County Mountains including; Lake Isabella, Frazier Park, Grapevine, and Tehachapi areas from 4:00 P.M. Monday morning through 10:00 P.M. Monday night.
Travel will continue to be extremely difficult or impossible. If you plan to travel, consider alternate strategies.
For information on road conditions, including closures or delays, call Caltrans at 1-800-427-7623 or Caltrans Quick Map.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 434 AM PST Sun Dec 26 2021 .SYNOPSIS...The region will continue to experience an active weather pattern today through Wednesday. Heavy snow with accumulations as low as 2,000 feet in the Sierra mountains and foothills are likely on tonight through Monday. Snow will likely impact the Kern County mountain passes on Monday, with an additional chance of pass level snowfall on Wednesday. We dry out by mid-week with below average temperatures the next seven days. && .DISCUSSION... Our active weather pattern continued across the district on Christmas day. Rain accumulations remained on the light side over the valley, with most locations receiving less than one tenth of an inch. Heavier accumulations remained in the foothills and Sierra with some locations receiving between a half to one inch of liquid equivalent as well as over a foot of snow. Latest water vapor satellite imagery is showing the main upper low swinging through the central California interior. This has allowed for current snow levels to drop to around three thousand feet according to snow level radars as well as MRMS radar data. Light isolated showers will mostly continue over the Sierra today with minor accumulations ahead of the next system. Lastly, as this low moves through, gusty west winds will continue along the Mojave desert slopes through Midnight with wind gusts up to 55 mph likely through at least Midnight. The next system will begin to impact the region later this and evening and will continue through Monday night. For the Sierra foothills, including Yosemite Valley, the Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning effective 4 PM PST today through 10 PM PST Monday. Heavy snow accumulations above 1,500 feet is certain. The NBM is showing a likely (>60%) chance of receiving at least 12 inches of snow or more through Monday night for elevations as low as 2,000 feet and above. For the Kern County mountains, the Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 4 AM PST until 10 PM PST Monday. General amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated amounts up to 18 inches are conceivable above 2,000 feet. On Monday, there is a 75% chance of seeing at least a trace and a 26% chance of at least one inch along the Grapevine. Between 2 to 4 inches is conceivable along Tehachapi Pass on Monday. There is a 65% chance of receiving at least one inch or greater along Tehachapi Pass on Monday. We`ll get a quick break in the action on Tuesday ahead of the next upper low to impact the area on Wednesday. Amounts are much lighter with this mid-week system with the heaviest precipitation amounts in Kern County. However, snow levels will remain around pass levels, so this will need to be monitored for any winter weather products on Wednesday. && .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
