MD 0091 CONCERNING HEAVY SNOW FOR HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA
Mesoscale Discussion 0091
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0620 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026
Areas affected...higher elevations of the southern Sierra
Concerning...Heavy snow
Valid 180020Z - 180215Z
SUMMARY...Heavy snow should continue over the southern Sierra
through 06Z, with 2-4 inch/hour rates possible over the next few
hours.
DISCUSSION...A mid-level impulse is expected to overspread much of
central CA over the next few hours, which should further increase
moisture advection and stronger localized forcing for ascent along
the windward side of the southern Sierra this evening. Multiple
instances of heavy snow have already been reported at the BAN, BIH,
and MMH ASOS sites over the past hour or so, and the expectation is
for heavy snow to persist across the southern Sierra through at
least 06Z. The heaviest snowfall rates (perhaps in the 2-4 inch/hour
range) appear most likely from now into the 04Z time frame, in
agreement with HREF ensemble probabilities.
..Squitieri.. 02/18/2026
...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...
ATTN...WFO...VEF...REV...HNX...STO...
LAT...LON 37011800 36811800 36741826 36971878 37231912 37571950
37991990 38232002 38432005 38582006 38561982 38291936
38061900 37581840 37011800
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