Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
251 AM PDT MON MAY 10 2010

...A WINTER LIKE STORM WILL AFFECT THE REGION TONIGHT...

.A STORM SYSTEM ORIGINATING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL TRACK
SOUTHEASTWARD AND BRING A THREAT OF SNOW...UNSEASONABLY COLD
TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE
SIERRA TONIGHT.

CAZ096-101800-
/O.UPG.KHNX.WS.A.0011.100511T0000Z-100511T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KHNX.WS.W.0012.100511T0000Z-100511T1200Z/
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
251 AM PDT MON MAY 10 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
5 AM PDT TUESDAY ABOVE 5000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR HEAVY LATE SEASON SNOW AND STRONG
WINDS WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM PDT
TUESDAY FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS
CANYON. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON.

AS THIS STORM IS CONSIDERED A LATE SEASON STORM...SNOW AMOUNT
CRITERIA FOR WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE LOWER THAN DURING THE
NORMAL WINTER SEASON. THE NEW CRITERIA FOR A WARNING IS 5 INCHES
OR MORE.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 4 TO 7 INCHES WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS OF UP TO
10 INCHES POSSIBLE ABOVE 8000 FEET.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 5000 FEET.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE YOSEMITE PARK VICINITY BY LATE
THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS OCCURRING DURING
THE EVENING HOURS. THE SNOW WILL SPREAD SOUTHWARD INTO KINGS
CANYON PARK DURING THE EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: SHAVER LAKE...HUNTINGTON LAKE...BADGER PASS.

* WINDS: WEST 25 TO 35 MPH ALONG THE SIERRA CREST WITH LOCAL
GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS: WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS...TRAVEL DELAYS...POSSIBLE
ROAD CLOSURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW AND STRONG WINDS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. PERSONS PLANNING
TRAVEL INTO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA INCLUDING
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR THEIR
FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE FOR UPDATES ON THIS STORM.

&&

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$