Projected Precipitation for Mariposa, Oakhurst and Yosemite Valley: 0.25" to 0.50"
May 3, 2023 - National Weather Service Hanford Office officials report a storm system just off the Central California coast will continue keep unsettled weather over our area through Thursday, resulting in a chance of precipitation across much of our area.
Snow levels will range between 5,000 and 6000 feet.
The majority of this precipitation will fall tonight and Thursday morning.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hanford CA
345 AM PDT Wed May 3 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
An atmospheric disturbance will move inland across central
California, keeping a chance of precipitation over the region
through the end of the week. High temperatures will be around
fifteen degrees below normal for this time of year during the
next few afternoons, rising to around normal early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
An upper level low pressure system which has brought cooler
temperatures and some precipitation to our area, continues to
spin along the California coast. Ensemble model solutions slowly
swing the system inland through the end of the week. As the system
pushes ashore, showers will move into our area this afternoon and
continue into Thursday. There will be a slight chance of thunderstorms
Thursday, mainly over the Sierra, as the upper low moves overhead.
Unseasonably cool temperatures will also continue, with afternoon
highs around 10-15 degrees below normal through Friday. Blended
model guidance gives probabilities around 25 to 50 percent for
high temperatures no higher than 66 degrees in the San Joaquin
Valley on Thursday.
A chance of showers lingers over the mountains Friday and Saturday
as the system continues eastward, with a few thunderstorms possible
over portions of the Sierra. Snow levels will run around 5500 to
6500 feet with as much as 4-7 inches accumulating at the highest
elevations. QPF in the Valley and desert areas is generally 1/10
of an inch or less and around 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch in the adjacent
higher terrain below the snow level.
Model solutions diverge a bit for the first part of next week.
Blended model guidance keeps the period dry with temperatures
warming, recovering to right around normal by Tuesday.
&&
.AVIATION...
MVFR or lower conditions are likely in and near any showers
today. Outside of precipitation, VFR conditions will prevail
across Central California.
&&
.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.
&&
.CERTAINTY...
The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high.
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...
None.
&&
Source: NWS
