El Nino DISASTER looms for California: 'ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENT' possible, could be followed 'VERY LOW SNOW LEVELS'

A long range weather forecast for California predicts the state may be hit by a major El Nino storm next weekend. That storm could be followed by abnormally cold temperatures that could put snow on the valley floor, a rare event for the region.

UPDATE: Wednesday, 1/27, 7:00 AM PST - The conditions favoring an atmospheric river event have dissipated. Rain is still expected across Northern California with Southern California getting light precipitation on Saturday, at least as far as Los Angeles. Snow levels are still expected to be very low, but not to the valley floor. They may reach the 2,500- 3,000 ft. level, and will likely impact traffic through the state's mountain passes. El Nino remains, the its effects are expected to persist at least into March.  -MC

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The National Weather Service in Hanford, California, has issued a notable forecast discussion that suggests a lot of rain, and maybe snow, are on tap for the San Joaquin Valley in California. While the likelihood of these things remains low, the long-range models are predicting that it is possible as weather patterns emerge.

"El Nino is in full gear," the forecast discussion points out as it forecasts "another possible atmospheric river event" for California.

READ MORE: California at risk! Officials plan for ARkstorm to hit California

An atmospheric river event is a phenomenon most commonly associated with El Nino weather patterns where a series of storms can hit California in waves, delivering up to 10 times the volume of the Mississippi River to the state in just a matter of days. Such a pattern can be disastrous for the state if it overwhelms flood control systems.

The NWS forecast discussion however, not only predicts an atmospheric river event, but it explains, "Confidence is high that the TROF [trough] will remain deep and dig into Southern California during its passage." This means Los Angeles and possibly San Diego will receive considerable rain from this weather pattern, which will hit on or about Sunday.

Of further note is the explanation that "Very cold air could surge into Central California by the end of the forecast period for very low snow levels."

The forecast does not explain what is meant by "very low" snow levels, but much of the San Joaquin Valley floor is just a few hundred feet above sea level. Snow is very rare there, but when it does fall, it paralyzes the region. Residents don't know how to cope with the snowy conditions so they tend to stay home and play in it. Every few years, one spot in the valley or another may get a touch of snow, but widespread snowfall is uncommon, and it does not last for more than a few hours. Low snow levels can also close the passes in and out of the San Joaquin Valley, temporarily sealing off the region.

Shop Holy Cards

Of greater concern are the frosty conditions that can destroy crops, especially citrus.

Scientists predict that the El Nino conditions in the Equatorial Pacific are about to weaken, but so far the waters have not dipped in temperature. Even if the El Nino, which is possibly the strongest such event ever recorded, does weaken, its greatest effects in North America are usually felt between January and March. This means the El Nino phenomenon is just getting started for most Americans.

How much of these predictions will come to pass remains open to speculation, but as we approach the next weekend, the forecasts will become more certain. At a minimum, Californians should prepare for a good measure of rain by next weekend.

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
  320 AM PST MON JAN 25 2016
  
  .SYNOPSIS...
  HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING A RETURN TO MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS TO
  CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. HOWEVER...PERIODS OF NIGHTTIME AND MORNING DENSE
  FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FOR MUCH OF THE
  WEEK. OTHERWISE...MOSTLY CLEAR AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL
  PREVAIL. A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION BY FRIDAY...
  BRINGING A RETURN TO UNSETTLED CONDITIONS OVER THE AREA. 
  
  &&
  
  .DISCUSSION...
  RIDGE PATTERN NOW TAKING HOLD OF THE REGION AS FOG BECOMES THE
  DOMINATE WEATHER FEATURE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. AHEAD OF THE RIDGE
  AXIS...A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT IS ALLOWING COLD AIR TO REACH
  CENTRAL CALIFORNIA THIS MORNING. MANY SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LOCATIONS
  WERE ALREADY IN THE LOWER 40S AS OVERNIGHT LOWS COULD REACH THE
  UPPER 30S. YET...EVEN WITH COLD AIR FILTERING INTO THE REGION...
  ALONG WITH CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH A SPEED MAX AT JET LEVEL...FOG
  CONTINUES TO GROW THIS MORNING ACROSS THE VALLEY AS SEVERAL
  LOCATIONS WERE ALREADY REPORTING LESS THEN ONE MILE VISIBILITY.
  THEREFORE...FOG MAY WIN OUT AS A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MAY BE
  WARRANTED FOR THIS MORNING UNTIL NEAR 10 AM PST. 
  
  SHORT RANGE MODELS SHOWING THE RIDGE AXIS OVER THE WEST COAST BY
  TONIGHT AS ANY DOUBT OF DENSE FOG FORMATION WILL BE REMOVED BY
  MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. AT THAT POINT...ANY POSSIBLE
  MIXING WILL BE REMOVED AS THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES VERY STABLE.
  MODELS MAINTAIN THE RIDGE AXIS OVER THE WEST FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND
  FORCING A SHORT WAVE TROF TO RIDE OVER THE RIDGE ON TUESDAY. A
  SECOND WEAK SHORT WAVE TROF ON WEDNESDAY WILL SUPPORT IN THE BREAK
  DOWN OF THE RIDGE TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK. 
  
  THE RETURN OF UNSETTLED CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR ON FRIDAY AS THE
  FLOW ALOFT TURNS MORE ZONAL. THIS SHIFT WILL INTRODUCE FOR AN
  INFLUX OF MOISTURE ONTO THE WEST COAST. IN ADDITION...MODEL SHOW A
  +130KNOTS JET DRIVING ONTO THE WEST COAST ON FRIDAY STEERING
  ABUNDANT MOISTURE FOR ANOTHER POSSIBLE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENT. EL
  NINO IS IN FULL GEAR AS MULTIPLE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO HIT THE
  WEST COAST STARTING BY THE WEEKEND. WHILE MODELS DO SHOW SOME
  UNCERTAINTY ON THE TIMING OF THE MAIN TROF PASSAGE ON SUNDAY...
  CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT THE TROF WILL REMAIN DEEP AND DIG INTO
  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING ITS PASSAGE. IF IT MAKES IT TOWARD
  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...VERY COLD AIR COULD SURGE INTO CENTRAL
  CALIFORNIA BY THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD FOR VERY LOW SNOW
  LEVELS. 
  
  &&
  
  .AVIATION...
  IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY...AREAS MVFR AND LOCAL LIFR IN MIST/FOG
  FROM 06Z-18Z MONDAY. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL
  ELSEWHERE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
  
  &&
  
  .AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
  NONE.
  
  &&
  
  .CERTAINTY...
  
  THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS HIGH.
  THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS MEDIUM.
  

Free RCIA classes for Students and Catechists from Catholic Online School

---

The California Network is the Next Wave in delivery of information and entertainment on pop culture, social trends, lifestyle, entertainment, news, politics and economics. We are hyper-focused on one audience, YOU, the connected generation. JOIN US AS WE REDEFINE AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE EVER-CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE.