Sunrise 5:58 AM   Sunset 7:51 PM Moonrise 4:01 AM   Moonset 4:10 PM

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FXUS66 KHNX 040733 AFDHNX

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1233 AM PDT Sat May 4 2024

KEY MESSAGES
1. Moderate to major winter storm impacts are expected in the Sierra Nevada above 6,000 feet this afternoon and tonight due to blowing snow and snow amounts up to 18 inches.

2. Damaging wind gusts are anticipated in the Mojave Desert Slopes this afternoon through Sunday evening.

3. A few strong thunderstorms are possible in the Sierra Nevada below 6,000 feet and adjacent foothills this afternoon.

4. A warming trend is expected Monday through at least Friday.

DISCUSSION
An upper-level area of low pressure just off the coast of the Pacific Northwest will move southeastward today. Precipitation ahead of this storm system will overspread Central California from north to south this afternoon. The cyclone aloft will move eastward across Northern California tonight, before entering the Great Basin Sunday. Moderate to major winter storm impacts are anticipated in the Sierra Nevada above 6,000 feet this afternoon and tonight due to blowing snow and snow amounts up to 18 inches. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect. Damaging wind gusts are expected in the Mojave Desert Slopes this afternoon through Sunday evening. There is a 64 percent chance of wind gusts of 58 mph or higher at Walker Pass tonight. A High Wind Warning is in effect. Strong, gusty west winds are anticipated in the remainder of the Mojave Desert this afternoon through Sunday evening. A Wind Advisory is in effect. A few strong thunderstorms are conceivable in the Sierra Nevada below 6,000 feet and adjacent foothills this afternoon. Here are thunderstorm probabilities for select locations in the Sierra Nevada below 6,000 feet and adjacent foothills this afternoon:

Shaver Lake - 22% Auberry - 21% Oakhurst - 20% Coarsegold - 20% Mariposa - 18% Yosemite Valley - 17%

The forecast area will remain between a pesky atmospheric disturbance over the Central United States and a ridge of high pressure over the Eastern Pacific Ocean next week. As far as temperatures are concerned, high temperatures this afternoon will be eleven to thirteen degrees cooler than yesterday afternoon. Maximum temperatures Sunday afternoon will be around fifteen degrees below normal for this time of year. A warming trend is anticipated Monday through at least Friday. By Friday afternoon, high temperatures will be seven to nine degrees above their typical values for the first half of May.

AVIATION
VFR conditions will prevail across Central California this morning. MVFR or lower conditions are likely in and near precipitation this afternoon and this evening. Mountain obscurations are expected in the Sierra Nevada and Kern County mountains tonight.

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
High Wind Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT Sunday for CAZ338.
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT Sunday for CAZ337-339.
Winter Storm Warning above 6000 feet from 1 PM this afternoon to 8 AM PDT Sunday for CAZ323-326>330.

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