MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0067
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0231 PM CST MON FEB 02 2004
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...CNTRL/SRN SIERRA RANGE
   
   CONCERNING...HEAVY SNOW 
   
   VALID 022031Z - 030230Z
   
   SNOWFALL WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON SWD ALONG THE CNTRL/SRN
   SIERRA RANGE. HOURLY RATES APPROACHING 2 TO 3 INCHES/HOUR WILL BE
   POSSIBLE MAINLY ABOVE 4000-5000 FT.
   
   AS OF 2015Z...REGIONAL RADAR DATA SHOWED LEADING EDGE OF FRONTAL
   PRECIPITATION BAND FROM APPROXIMATELY 50W OF RNO SWWD TO 40E OF MRY
   MOVING EWD AT 30-35KTS. ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THIS FRONTAL BAND IS NOT
   ONLY QUITE MOIST WITH PW VALUES APPROACHING .8 INCH...BUT IT IS ALSO
   CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE WITH MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES OF 7-7.5 C/KM. 
   
   EXPECT SNOW RATES TO INCREASE SWD ALONG THE SPINE OF THE CNTRL/SRN
   SIERRAS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AS EWD MOVING
   PRECIPITATION BAND ENCOUNTERS THE ELEVATED TERRAIN. STRONG DYNAMIC
   FORCING AHEAD OF SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING ONTO THE NRN CA
   COAST...COUPLED WITH THE OROGRAPHIC ASCENT AND STEEPENING LAPSE
   RATES WILL SUPPORT HOURLY ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 3 INCHES...
   ESPECIALLY WITH ANY CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS EMBEDDED WITHIN LARGER
   PRECIPITATION SHIELD.
   
   ..MEAD.. 02/02/2004
   
   
   ATTN...WFO...VEF...REV...HNX...STO...
   
   39322083 39452036 38771971 37771880 36861824 36251812
   35991841 36741924 38312057