Projected Rainfall for Mariposa 3.00" to 4.00" Now 1.50" to 2.00"
Projected Snowfall for Mariposa: 0"
Projected Rainfall for Oakhurst 2.00" to 3.00" Now 1.50" to 2.00"
Projected Snowfall for Oakhurst: Less than 1"
Projected Rainfall for Yosemite Valley: 3.00" to 4.00" Now 1.50" to 2.00"
Projected Snowfall for Yosemite Valley: 8" to 12" inches Now 12" to 18"
Major winter storm impacts are expected in the Sierra Nevada.
The majority of this precipitation will fall Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
415 AM PDT Sat Mar 25 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Today will be cooler than normal for late March, with some
scattered showers over the Sierra, then dry and warming for
the start of next week. The next storm system will impact
central California Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a
return to dry and warming conditions for the end of next
week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Gusty winds along the Mojave Desert Slopes are diminishing and a
Wind Advisory there will expire at 5 AM this morning. Shortwave
energy dropping through the broadly cyclonic flow overhead will
maintain our cooler than normal conditions today with some
scattered mainly light showers over the mountains. Subsequent weak
shortwave ridging will bring dry conditions for Sunday and
Monday, with temperatures warming to just a few degrees below
normal on Monday.
Another developing low pressure system dropping south from the
Gulf of Alaska will begin to impact central California by Tuesday.
An accompanying plume of moisture will be steered into the
region, bringing another round of significant precipitation to our
area Tuesday into Wednesday. Latest WPC QPF guidance during this
period is around 1/3 to 1/2 inch in the San Joaquin Valley,
increasing as you go eastward, with one to one and a half inches
into the lower foothills. There is a marginal risk(at least 5
percent probability) for excessive rainfall in the eastern Valley
and adjacent lower foothills Tuesday into early Wednesday.
Snow levels are progged to run around 3500 to 4500 feet with this
system, except rising up to 5000 to 5500 Tuesday afternoon in
Kern and Tulare Counties. Snow accumulations up to 3 to 4 feet
are expected above 6000 feet and as much as 1 to 2 feet down to
around 4000 feet. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the Sierra
and foothills above 3000 feet from late Monday night through
Wednesday evening. In Kern County, current QPF is one tenth of an
inch or less in the desert areas and up to one half inch into the
mountains. Probabilities for receiving at least one tenth of an
inch of snowfall on the major highway passes are around 30 to 40
percent for Tehachapi but less than 10 percent for the Grapevine.
Thursday will bring some lingering mainly light mountain showers,
then dry and warming conditions for the end of the week.
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours.
&&
.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.
&&
.CERTAINTY...
The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium.
Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit
www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information
and/or to provide feedback.
&&
.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 5 AM PDT early this morning for CAZ338.
Winter Storm Watch from Monday evening through Wednesday evening
for CAZ318-320-322>331.
Source: NWS