June 23, 2022 - The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports a few strong thunderstorms are possible in the Sierra Nevada, adjacent foothills, and Kern County mountains and desert today.
Dangerous cloud to ground lightning strikes, wind gusts near 45 mph, and small hail are hazards associated with strong thunderstorms.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1246 AM PDT Thu Jun 23 2022
.SYNOPSIS...
A few strong thunderstorms are possible in the Sierra Nevada,
adjacent foothills, and a portion of the Kern County mountains and
desert today. The possibility of thunderstorms will persist in the
Sierra Nevada Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. Widespread
triple digit heat is expected in the San Joaquin Valley each
afternoon Saturday through Tuesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
A cyclone aloft will move east-northeastward through Central
California today. This upper-level area of low pressure will open
up into a trough of low pressure over the Great Basin tonight. A
few strong thunderstorms are conceivable in the Sierra Nevada,
adjacent foothills, and a portion of the Kern County mountains and
desert today. The primary thunderstorm hazards will be dangerous
cloud to ground lightning strikes, strong wind gusts, and small
hail. Cyclonic flow aloft will persist over the Golden State
Friday into Saturday. As a result, thunderstorms are possible
Friday afternoon in the Sierra Nevada. The possibility of
thunderstorms should be confined to the Sierra Nevada crest
Saturday afternoon. An anticyclone aloft over the Eastern
Pacific will progress northeastward across California late this
weekend into early next week. The upper-level area of high
pressure will be centered over the Great Basin Tuesday, before
progressing eastward over the Great Plains Wednesday.
Triple digit heat will return to most of the San Joaquin Valley
Friday afternoon. Widespread triple digit heat is expected in the
San Joaquin Valley each afternoon Saturday through Tuesday. A Heat
Advisory may be required for the San Joaquin Valley, Coastal
Range, and Kern River Valley Saturday through Monday. Here are
probabilities of maximum temperatures of 102 degrees or higher
for select locations in the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday, June
26th, 2022:
Fresno - 78%
Lemoore - 76%
Visalia - 75%
Hanford - 75%
Delano - 71%
Bakersfield - 70%
Merced - 70%
Reedley - 66%
Madera - 66%
Porterville - 59%
&&
.AVIATION...
IFR or lower conditions are likely in and near showers and
thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada, adjacent foothills, and a
portion of the Kern County mountains and desert today. VFR
conditions will prevail in the San Joaquin Valley through at least
the next 24 hours.
&&
.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.
Source: NWS
