688
FXUS66 KHNX 180532
AFDHNX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
932 PM PST TUE FEB 17 2026
KEY MESSAGES
1. MULTIPLE STORMS MOVE THROUGH THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY,
BRINGING PERIODS OF MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW.
2. WINTER STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY
OR THURSDAY, INCLUDING THE I-5/GRAPEVINE AREA.
3. STRONG WINDS WILL INCREASE THE RISK FOR POWER OUTAGES, DOWNED
TREES, AND ROAD HAZARDS FOR MANY MOUNTAIN AREAS AS WELL AS THE
MOJAVE DESERT AND THE SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
DISCUSSION
THE CORE OF A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE SWEEPING
THROUGH THE NORTHERN HALF OF CALIFORNIA TONIGHT. THE FRINGES OF
A VERY STRONG JET WILL BRING STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER THE
MOUNTAINS, WITH SOME OF THAT ENERGY MIXING DOWN TO THE VALLEYS.
WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER READINGS JUST UNDER ONE INCH, THIS FLOW
WILL COUPLE WITH COLD UNSTABLE AIR ALOFT TO BRING WIDESPREAD
MODERATE RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW, WITH SOME POCKETS OF HEAVIER
PRECIPITATION. SNOW LEVELS WILL CONTINUE FALLING BELOW 3,000
FEET TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING, BEFORE PRECIPITATION EXITS
THE REGION. MOST AREAS WILL SEE A BREAK ON WEDNESDAY, EXCEPT
FOR A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS OVER THE NORTHERN SIERRAS. THAT
BREAK WILL BE BRIEF AS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH ON
THURSDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL LIKELY BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF GUSTY
WINDS, MODERATE RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW, AND MAYBE A
THUNDERSTORM, JUST A STEP DOWN IN SEVERITY COMPARED TO TONIGHT.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS WITH THESE TWO STORMS THIS WEEK IS
WITH SNOW. SEVERAL FEET OF ADDITIONAL SNOW IS LIKELY OVER
ELEVATIONS OF 5,000 FEET. FOR LOWER MOUNTAIN ELEVATIONS, SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LESS BUT STILL IMPACTFUL AS THERE IS A
MODERATE RISK FOR A FEW INCHES ON THE GRAPEVINE/TEJON PASS AND
TEHACHAPI PASS. WINTER STORM WARNINGS CONTINUE.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BRING A BREAK IN THE STORMS, BUT NIGHTS
WILL BE COLD AND SOME FOG CONCERNS EXIST. ANOTHER ROUND OF
STORMS IS ON TARGET FOR NEXT WEEK STARTING SUNDAY.
AVIATION
PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL TAF SITES UNTIL AROUND
16Z, THEN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN RAIN ACROSS THE CENTRAL VALLEY. A
10-20% CHANCE OF TSTM THROUGH AROUND 16Z AT ALL TAF SITES.
MVRF/IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA DUE TO
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW. SURFACE WIND GUSTS 20 TO 30 KNOTS
THROUGH AROUND 12Z, THEN SURFACE WINDS GENERALLY 12 KTS AND
BELOW.
AIR QUALITY ISSUES
HNX AFD AUTHORS - EDIT THIS SECTION MANUALLY UFN
CONSULT:
HNX SITE PAGE --> BULLETIN LISTED THERE
AND
HTTP://WW2.VALLEYAIR.ORG/AQINFO/ACTION_DAY_HNX.TXT
CERTAINTY
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS LOW.
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS LOW.
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
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST WEDNESDAY FOR CAZ300-308-313-
337>339.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR CAZ318-320-
322>331.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST WEDNESDAY FOR CAZ333-334-
336.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 AM PST THURSDAY FOR CAZ335.
PUBLIC....AC
AVIATION....JW
WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
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