ZCZC SPCSWOMCD ALL
ACUS11 KWNS 032118 
SPC MCD 032118 
CAZ000-NVZ000-040315-

Mesoscale Discussion 0065
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0318 PM CST Sun Feb 03 2019

Areas affected...Sierra Mountains

Concerning...Heavy snow 

Valid 032118Z - 040315Z

SUMMARY...Heavy snow, with rates of 1 inch per hour and locally
exceeding 3 inches per hour at times -- especially at higher
elevations, will develop into the evening.

DISCUSSION...Strong, moist flow into a cooling troposphere is
supporting efficient snow production across much of the Sierra
Mountains. This large-scale pattern is expected to remain in place
through the evening as strong deep-layer ascent increases in
response to the next cyclone moving southward along the California
coast. Increasing ascent is already evident on water-vapor and
infrared satellite imagery, as well as in radar imagery, across the
Sacramento Valley as cloud tops have cooled and banded/cellular
echos have developed. As the lower troposphere cools, snow levels
fall, and these cellular features move into the Sierras, snowfall
rates briefly approaching 3 inches per hour may occur at elevations
as low as 6000-7000 feet. Strong winds will accompany this heavy
snow resulting in blizzard conditions at times.

Although snow will continue well into the overnight snowfall rates
may relax a bit overnight before picking up in intensity again
tomorrow ahead of the next short-wave trough embedded within the
larger-scale trough.

..Marsh.. 02/03/2019

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

ATTN...WFO...REV...HNX...STO...

LAT...LON   37431950 38332036 39532113 39712048 38901987 37781883
            37431950 

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