May 11, 2022 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a few strong thunderstorms are possible in the Sierra Nevada from Fresno County northward from 11:00 A.M. this morning until 7:00 P.M. this evening.
Small hail and wind gusts near 45 miles per hour are a couple of hazards associated with strong thunderstorms.
In addition to dangerous cloud to ground lightning strikes, any thunderstorm can produce intense rainfall rates, leading to localized flooding.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1258 AM PDT Wed May 11 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A few strong thunderstorms are possible in the Sierra Nevada from Fresno County northward today. Strong, gusty winds are expected in the Mojave Desert Slopes today. A warming trend is anticipated Thursday through Saturday. High temperatures this weekend will be seven to nine degrees above normal for this time of year. A cooling trend is expected Monday and Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION... A cyclone aloft will move southeastward across Central California today. This upper-level area of low pressure will weaken as it progresses eastward into the Great Basin tonight. A few strong thunderstorms are conceivable in the Sierra Nevada from Fresno County northward from 11 AM PDT this morning until 6 PM PDT this evening. A Wind Advisory is in effect for the Mojave Desert Slopes until 8 PM PDT this evening due to west to northwest wind gusts near 50 mph. A trough of low pressure over the Eastern Pacific Ocean will make landfall along the coast of the Pacific Northwest Thursday. This trough of low pressure will progress eastward across the Pacific Northwest Thursday night. A ridge of high pressure will build northward over the Western United States Friday. This ridge of high pressure will amplify over the Western United States this weekend. Zonal flow aloft will prevail Monday. A weak trough of low pressure may move eastward through Central California Tuesday. High temperatures this afternoon will be around ten degrees below normal for this time of year. A warming trend is expected Thursday through Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, maximum temperatures will be seven to nine degrees above their typical values for the middle of May. High temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley Sunday afternoon will be in the lower 90s, which is seven to nine degrees above normal for this time of year. Here are probabilities of maximum temperatures of 90 degrees or higher for select locations in the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday, May 15th, 2022: Fresno - 63% Hanford - 61% Reedley - 61% Visalia - 56% Lemoore - 52% A cooling trend is anticipated Monday and Tuesday. Maximum temperatures Monday afternoon will be two to four degrees lower than Sunday afternoon. High temperatures Tuesday afternoon will be a couple of degrees lower than Monday afternoon. Be that as it may, maximum temperatures Tuesday afternoon will be two to four degrees above their typical values for the middle of May. && .AVIATION... Westerly wind gusts up to 45 knots are expected at times over the Kern County mountains until 03z this evening. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada will result in IFR or lower conditions this afternoon. VFR conditions will prevail throughout Central California tonight into Thursday. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... None.Source: NWS
