Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Winter Storm Warning - April 12-13

WINTER STORM WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1025 AM PDT THU APR 12 2012

A WINTER-LIKE STORM WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL OVER THE MOUNTAINS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT.

SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PDT FRIDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD WILL ALLOW A WINTER STORM WARNING TO REMAIN IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PDT FRIDAY FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: RANGING FROM 8 TO 12 INCHES AT 4000 FEET TO TWO FEET OR MORE AT AND ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* TIMING: THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 11 PM TONIGHT AND 5 PM FRIDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CAMP NELSON, GIANT FOREST, JOHNSONDALE, LODGEPOLE, SHAVER LAKE, YOSEMITE VALLEY, TUOLOMNE MEADOWS.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 60 MPH OVER THE SIERRA CREST.

* IMPACTS: BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...WINTER-LIKE DRIVING CONDITIONS...TRAVEL DELAYS AND POSSIBLE ROAD CLOSURES.

If the storm we are now experiencing in the Bay Area is any indication, the Sierras are about to get a very big dump. Thunder, lightning, and sheets of water. My dog is so freaked out (unusual) that she has climbed into the bathtub, where she is huddled and impervious to treats.

There was actually a Slight Risk area for severe weather in the upper half of the central valley, including a possible threat of tornadoes -- unusual for the area.

The downpour here at noon is extreme -- can hear drips on my office ceiling, indicating a new roof leak.

From looks of the webcams, the Sierra should be getting a new white coat -- even the eastside.

My snowmobiling buddy wants to ride up tomorrow afternoon and camp overnight. Brrrr! I'm going to pass this time.

Earlier in the life of this storm. This is the Bay Bridge last night. (I didn't take the picture...forwarded by someone else, whose friend took it from an office building.) We had 750 lightning strikes yesterday evening, according to the Chron.

The photo is by Phil McGrew, and has now been picked up by the local media.

Awesome picture...

Last night, there was a tornado watch in the Dutch Oven near Merced.

Last night and this morning, got a dumping at 1,500 ft AGL where we live...got the tandem sit-on-top kayak ready for launch in our gravel driveway.

This morning, low clouds obscured the 3,000 foot peaks. On the way to work this morning we saw CalTrans snowplows headed up the 41 to Oakhurst.

Spring sprung winter...

incredible photo.

I heard a bit of thunder today, but didn't see any lightning.

We're taking it down here in the IE now. A ton of rain and thunder.

Report from the Bee. Record! 1.28 inches in Fresno. And more to come.

Bring.

It.

On.

hehehe...

That picture is fantastic, Ackichow. Thanks for sharing!!

CaT - I believe Stockton area had a tornado on Wednesday that touched ground. As I recall the first in 7 years or so for the area (possibly the entire county, but I don't recall all of the details).

I live up in the foothills (3,700 ft) of the Sierra (just southwest of Tahoe) and we saw about 6 inches of snow, with periodic sessions of ice and lightning as bookends to the main snow event. Odd storm all around!

And another record here, according to the Bee.

Here is the report for that event from the Storm Prediction Center's website for Wednesday.


"4 W" = 4 miles west of". "EF1" is the Enhanced Fujita scale of tornado strength based largely confirmed damage reports after the fact. The scale ranges from EF0 to EF5, with EF0 being the weakest.

CaT