Projected Snowfall Amounts for Mariposa 2.00" - 3.00"
Projected Snowfall Amounts for Oakhurst 3.00" - 4.00"
Projected Snowfall Amounts for Yosemite Valley 6.00" - 8.00"
February 20, 2022 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a storm system will impact Central California Monday evening through Wednesday afternoon.
The snow level will start at around 2,500 feet Monday evening, before falling to about 1,000 feet by Wednesday morning.
The majority of this precipitation will fall Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1216 PM PST Sun Feb 20 2022 .SYNOPSIS...Mild temperatures will persist today, and then colder temperatures will return on Monday. A low pressure system will impact Central California Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning and result in a chance of rain and mountain snow, as well as unseasonably cool temperatures. A cold airmass will continue over the area behind this system, and sub-freezing minimum temperatures are likely across much of the San Joaquin Valley by later in the week. && .DISCUSSION... A deep Pacific Northwest trough will drop down into the southwest this week will allow a cold polar airmass to intrude into the northern Plains states and even into the Great Basin. The harbinger of whats to come will be cooler temperatures and increased winds. Later this evening winds will get breezy and by tomorrow morning will strengthen due to a tightening pressure gradients ahead of the main system which is still just entering the Pacific Northwest. A wind advisory has been issued for the Kern County desert areas from 10 AM Monday through 10 PM Tuesday. Northwesterly to westerly winds will gust to around 50 mph in the most wind prone areas such as the foot of the mountain passes on the desert side. By late Monday into Tuesday morning the deepening trough will pivot southward into the region further ushering in colder temperatures and increased chances of precipitation. Snow levels will start out around 4000 feet Monday night and by the onset of precipitation around 00z Tuesday in the higher elevations in the northern parts of the CWA the snow levels will drop to around 2500 to 3000 feet. The system will continue to move southward and areas of the Sierra south of Sequoia National Park will begin to see precipitation begin around 06z Tuesday. The Kern County mountains will also be seeing an increase in precipitation chances shortly after that. A couple of Winter Weather Advisories have been issued to address these weather issues. The first Winter Weather Advisory for the Sierra north of Sequoia National Park will begin at 4 PM Monday and the second Winter Weather Advisory from the Sequoia National Park southward into the Kern County mountains, including the Grapevine pass area, will begin at 10 PM Monday. Both advisories will run through 4 PM Wednesday. This will address the impacts from the snowfall and the gusty winds with this system. Hikers and Campers really need to be prepared for this drastic change in the weather conditions. We have been really warm and will be returning to below normal temperature-wise in a very short time period. Also will be throwing in the winter precipitation for areas above 2000 feet. So it would definitely be best to return to lower elevations if you are unprepared before this storm gets here. By the time the precipitation ends on Wednesday afternoon snow levels will be around 1500 feet. So light low elevation snow showers will not be out of the question. Roads will be slick and care will be needed when traveling during this storm. Be sure to carry chains/cables inside your vehicle. Once the precipitation ends, we will still be dealing with the cold airmass in place behind the trough, so get those winter coats back out. Wednesday morning overnight low temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley will drop to the lower 30s and into the upper 20s in the Kern County desert areas. Any lingering clouds as the trough exits the area could keep temperatures just a tad warmer. But by Thursday morning with skies mostly cleared temperatures will drop to the upper 20s in the San Joaquin Valley and the lower 20s in the Kern desert areas. There is a 75 percent chance of a low temperature below 32 for Merced and 66 percent chance for Fresno on Thursday morning. For Edwards area in Kern County desert there is a 100 percent chance of this occuring on Thursday morning. Friday will be slightly warmer but still a good chance we will see freezing temperatures once again. This will be monitored over the next couple of shifts. Farmers will need to start preparing for this incoming cold air mass. Big changes coming, be prepared. && .AVIATION...VFR conditions will prevail across the Central CA interior through at least the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Sunday February 20 2022... Unhealthy for sensitive groups in Fresno County. Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Kern... Kings... Madera... Merced and Tulare Counties. No Burning For All in Fresno County. Further information is available at Valleyair.orgSource: NWS
