133
FXUS66 KHNX 271751 AAA
AFDHNX

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Hanford CA
951 AM PST Fri Dec 27 2024

.UPDATE...Updated Aviation Section.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

1. The disturbance moving through the region currently will
continue to drop precipitation through this morning. Another
disturbance is expected to bring chances of more precipitation
tot he area on Sunday.

2. Dense fog is possible across the San Joaquin Valley on
Saturday morning, with a 50 to 75 percent chance for
visibilities of a quarter mile or less between Hanford and
Merced.

3. Dry conditions and seasonable temperatures will prevail for
most of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A disturbance is currently producing light rain
across much of the Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills, as well
as light snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This precipitation
is expected to continue through this morning until around 10
AM. A Winter Weather Advisory issued for the Yosemite National
Park portion of the Sierra Nevada will be in effect until noon
today, with a total snow accumulation of up to 15 inches. This
system will also cause increased winds on the Mojave Desert
Slopes later this morning, with gusts up to 50 mph expected. A
Wind Advisory will go into effect at 4 AM today and run through
10 PM tonight.

After this disturbance moves out of the area this afternoon,
clearer skies and a ridge pattern would promote fog formation
on Saturday morning. There is currently a 50 to 75 percent
chance for visibilities of a quarter mile or lower from Hanford
up through Merced from 2 AM through 9 AM on Saturday.

A second disturbance is expected to come through the region on
Sunday, though this one may not come as far south as the
previous system, and looks to be drier as well. Current
probabilities of a tenth of an inch of rain in the Valley is 15
to 45 percent from Fresno northwards and less than 10 percent
south of Fresno. Snow chances do exist for this system, with a
30 to 50 percent chance for 6 inches of snow around Yosemite NP
at the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada on Sunday. There are
similar chances for 2 inches of snow further to the south.

Dry conditions and seasonable temperatures are expected to
return beginning Monday and will prevail through at least next
Friday. Looking into the long term forecast, the Climate
Prediction Center has all of our CWA in an above average chance
for temperatures (50 to 70 percent) for days 6 to 14, as well as
below normal chances for precipitation (40 to 60 percent). This
would have the beginning of 2025 start off with dry weather and
seasonable temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z Update:

In the San Joaquin Valley and West Side Hills, areas of MVFR
ceilings and visibility in haze/mist. Increasing areas of IFR
after 10Z Sat with widespread IFR with areas of LIFR in the
form of dense fog may form by 15Z Sat.

In the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills, VFR conditions
will prevail.

In the Tehachapi Mountains, areas of MVFR and local mountain
obscuring IFR in upslope clouds.

In the Kern County Deserts, VFR conditions will prevail.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...On Friday December 27 2024,
Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless
Registered in Fresno, Kern, and Madera Counties. Burning
Discouraged in Kings, Merced, and Tulare Counties, and Kern
(Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia National Park and
Forest.

&&

.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 until 10 PM PST this evening for CAZ338.

&&

$$

public...EW
aviation...DAS

weather.gov/hanford