Socal: FLASH FLOOD WATCH--- & High Wind

Accuweather ^ | Feb 25, 2011 | NWS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

In effect until Saturday, Feb 26, 12:00 PM

..FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* A PORTION OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS AND SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE.

* FROM 10 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING

* A COLD PACIFIC STORM WILL BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WITH THE COLD FRONT PASSAGE LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. WITH THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE...THREE HOURLY RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RANGE FROM ONE HALF TO ONE INCH AT THE COAST...TO 1 TO 2 INCHES ON THE LOWER COASTAL SLOPES. RAPID RUNOFF IN AREAS THAT RECEIVED HEAVY RAINFALL A WEEK AGO COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Looking at Ken Clarks Blog for the 23rd :

Very Cold Storm to Bring Rare Snow to Low Elevations in California

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A very cold storm now in the Northwest looks still on track to bring California, and other areas, a rare taste of the white stuff other parts of the nation take for granted. This storm could be a once-in-20-or-30-years storm for parts of California for how cold it will be and how low accumulating snow will get. By Friday in the north and late Friday night and Saturday night in the south, it will be almost as cold as it can be. It is rare to see 500 mb temperatures dropping to around 35 below zero C around the Bay Area and 32 below zero C near Los Angeles. 850 mb temperatures will fall to a ridiculous 8 below zero in the north to 4 or 5 below zero in the south. This will be a no-frills update. I will give detailed forecast by region with text only.

Sierra:

Snow developing from north to south Thursday and Thursday night with gusty winds and heavy snow for about a 12-hour time period. Additional snow likely Friday into Saturday into Saturday evening but more showery in nature while still being locally heavy at times. Accumulations above 6,000 feet: 18 to 36 inches with blowing and drifting. Snow levels will drop to the lower foothills from north to south Friday and Friday night, and 6 to 12 inches is likely above 3,000 feet with locally higher amounts; 3-8 inches can fall down to 2,000 feet and a few inches are possible down to 500- to 1,000-foot level. Snow will end Saturday night but it will remain very cold through Sunday with snowcovered and icy roads likely to remain well beyond the ending time of snow.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See the update just above/....and from Jan 6 2011:

Snow Depth and Reservoir Levels Doing Well in the West

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Jan 6, 2011; 2:42 PM ET

Part way through the winter season, and in the Southwest the rainfall season, and it's time to check to see how things are doing as far as precipitation and snowpack. In general, pretty darn well. In areas that it was feared were going to be in a drought year, the numbers are anything but droughtlike. This should make water managers smile a little, and it may mean more money in your pocket next year than if there was a drought.

The following is a map of the snow depth departure from normal all across the West.

Areas of blues and purple have above- to much-above-normal snow depth, and the yellow and oranges are below. As you can see, a large percentage of the West is in the blue. This is especially true for the Sierra, the Wasatch range, and a large portion of the Cascades. There is an area of the northern Cascades that has below-normal snow depth. The more widespread area of lower-than-normal snow depth is in the northern Rockies from Montana and eastern Idaho to northwestern Wyoming. The good news in some of these areas is that the rest of the winter should be kind to you for additional snowfall, and negative departures should diminish.

For California, having had major water woes in the last several years, the mega storms of December brought a ton of snow and rain. The chart below shows a breakdown of the northern, central and southern Sierra showing snow water equivalent and the percentage of normal to date, also compared to what should be normal on April 1.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Would be great to see an update for this after this storm...could be the last one for this season.

Will look around.

[Inyo-Mono]

Good luck to anyone needing to go Reno today. Hwy 395 just closed between Lee Vining and Bridgeport due to blizzard conditions and part of I-80 between Sacramento and Reno closed due to whiteout conditions. Dumping snow in Mammoth right now.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Generic link :

Western U.S. Weather Blog --- Ken Clark

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Keep it coming....we need the waater....for everyone...

More from Clark's Blog:

Rare Cold Storm Still on Track, with Some Small Changes

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Feb 24, 2011; 2:39 PM ET

I do not have a lot of changes to the long posting of yesterday for the weather from Thursday night through Friday in California. You can check the original post by clicking here.

But there are some changes, especially for Southern California. The cold front dropping south late tomorrow and tomorrow night will have more southwest flow ahead of it than was forecast yesterday. This will probably push up snow levels ahead of that front tomorrow night. They are likely to climb to 4,500 feet or so on south-facing slopes, while on north-facing slopes the snow could fall at levels from 500 to 1,000 feet lower. Those snow levels will start to fall again late tomorrow night and Saturday morning, reaching the levels I talked about yesterday by Saturday midday and afternoon. Rain ahead of the front is also looking to be pretty heavy for a time, mainly later tomorrow night around Los Angeles, and very late tomorrow night through midday Saturday in San Diego.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More:

Next Stop For Cold Storm-Arizona

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Feb 25, 2011; 2:50 PM ET

After California, the next stop for the very cold storm will be Arizona. Arizona will also be hit with very low snow levels and accumulating snow in places it does not happen every winter.

The greatest precipitation moves in from west to east late Saturday and Saturday night and continues into Sunday central and eastern sections before diminishing from west to east. Snow levels begin between 5,000 feet north and 6,500 feet south but fall rapidly tomorrow night to 2,000 feet central and north to 3,000 feet southeast, putting snow showers into parts of the Tucson Metro area.

Accumulations above 6,000 feet from the in the northern mountains will be 12 to 24 inches, with 6 to 12 inches above 7,000 feet east-central and southeast

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well Damn....looks like it is just special for us on the usually warm southern California Beaches:

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[Brad’s Gramma]

100 or 1000 feet????

[NormsRevenge]

Phoenix race Sunday could be a bit rain delayed and chilly either way.. fingers crossed..

[NormsRevenge]

I wish.. the boy poodle could pull it by hisself.. he thinks he’s a husky.

[NormsRevenge]

The weatherheads had mentioned snow to sea level at one point, and Yes, 100 not 1000. 8-o

[Thud]

100 feet. They thought it might even snow in San Francisco, but it didn't.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/25/BA0J1HUQCT.DTL&tsp=1

"No snow so far, just regular old rain

Will Kane, Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writers
San Francisco Chronicle February 25, 2011 10:56 AM

Wondering where the all the snow is? You might have to wait a while, and head to the hills to see any at all.

The rain that fell over the Bay Area overnight and early this morning was courtesy of a strong low pressure system. But the temperatures aren't low enough for snow to fall, at least not yet.

The snow level won't drop to 1,500 feet throughout the region - and 1,000 feet in the North Bay - until it gets colder, which might not happen until "very late this afternoon," said Bob Benjamin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. "As the cold front comes through, the air mass will become unstable," Benjamin said. "There will be showers and the cold-air temperature will begin falling off." Benjamin said any snow that does fall will be "showery in nature" rather than steady ..."

[Avid Coug]

“Chickens can adapt,...cats might complain.”

LOL! That’s funny! Actually, the cats will certainly complain, but the weather will only be an excuse.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Wow....here’s PRAYING it DOES come...AND while the dawg and I are still awake. She was in it once and LOVED it!!!!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Get your Blankie ready....or your snuggie...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Alright, Thud. MAKE IT SNOW for us! :)

[Brad’s Gramma]

I’m NOT a wuss like some people who shall remain unnamed. Why, I’m at the office with my shorts and flip flops on AND!......I have this bridge..... :)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Shorts...LOL

Might are put away

I am wearing one of those hooded sweats.

Gotta keep the electric bill down...damn it is expensive.

[Brad’s Gramma]

I remember the first winter we moved out here from the midwest....and how I laughed at everyone for their winter coats....

...till the next winter.. :)