The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement for the areas north of Kings Canyon warning of possible thunderstorm and heavy rain danger.
AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE OVER CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WILL BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SIERRA NEVADA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS ENOUGH MOISTURE WITH THIS SYSTEM TO GENERATE HEAVY RAIN WITH THUNDERSTORMS. THE BEST CHANCE OF THE HEAVY RAIN IS NORTH OF KINGS CANYON.
PEOPLE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. IF THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR…MOVE INDOORS. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE STREAMS TO RISE QUICKLY. THIS IS ALSO NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY OR MORE FROM THE AREA WHERE ITS RAINING. THAT IS ABOUT THE DISTANCE THAT YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER… YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY! IF CAMPING OR HIKING FAR FROM A SAFE VEHICLE OR BUILDING…AVOID OPEN FIELDS…THE TOP OF A HILL…OR A RIDGE TOP. STAY AWAY FROM TALL ISOLATED TREES OR OTHER TALL OBJECTS. IF YOU ARE IN A FOREST…STAY NEAR A LOWER STAND OF TREES. (National Weather Service via EDIS)