MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0001
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0348 AM CST THU JAN 01 2004
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...NRN CA/SWRN ORE
   
   CONCERNING...PRECIPITATION TRENDS...HEAVY SNOW 
   
   VALID 010948Z - 011215Z
   
   SNOW RATES WILL INCREASE BY AROUND 12Z...TO LIKELY WELL IN EXCESS OF
   2 INCHES PER HOUR AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS...PERSISTING THROUGH THE LATE
   MORNING HOURS.
   
   INTENSIFYING MID-LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE
   NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST...ACCOMPANIED BY DEEPENING SURFACE LOW. 
   RAPID PRESSURE FALLS HAVE ALREADY BECOME EVIDENT ALONG IMMEDIATE
   COASTAL AREAS...NORTH OF EUREKA CA INTO AREAS NORTH OF BROOKINGS
   ORE...WHERE ETA/AVN SUGGEST LOW WILL MIGRATE INLAND AROUND/SHORTLY
   AFTER 12Z.  STRENGTHENING LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE/WARM ADVECTION AND
   INCREASINGLY DIVERGENT UPPER FLOW FIELD WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DRAMATIC
   INCREASE IN UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION THROUGH DEEP TROPOSPHERIC LAYER
   ACROSS THE SHASTA/SISKIYOU REGION INTO THE SOUTHERN CASCADES AND
   NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA DURING THE 12-15Z TIME FRAME.  THIS WILL
   INCLUDE LEVELS WITH TEMPERATURES FAVORABLE TO DENDRITIC ICE CRYSTAL
   GROWTH...SUPPORTING INCREASING SNOW RATES.  LOW-LEVEL WARMING SOUTH/
   EAST OF LOW MAY SUPPORT RISE OF SNOW LEVELS TO 4-5 THOUSAND FEET
   ALONG NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL RANGES...AND 3-4 THOUSAND FEET
   NORTH OF THE REDDING/RED BLUFF AREAS...WHILE IN AREAS NEAR NORTH
   THROUGH EAST OF MEDFORD...SNOW LEVELS REMAIN AROUND 1000 TO 2000
   FEET.
   
   ..KERR.. 01/01/2004
   
   
   ATTN...WFO...REV...MFR...STO...EKA...
   
   43002324 43302237 42442147 40932110 40302063 39752141
   40402189 40592233 40482287 40062296 39752279 39622306
   40502340 41212363 42102377 42472394 42682360