Major rain, possible flooding expected this weekend in Merced County

Crews throughout Merced County are preparing for what authorities fear could be the most significant flooding in the region in the past 20 years.

The National Weather Service predicts the region could receive up to 3 inches of rain over the weekend in a series of major storms.

The weather is expected to be even more intense in the Sierra Nevada, particularly in Yosemite National Park. The weather service predicts anywhere from 5 to 12 inches of rain at the higher elevations, prompting Yosemite to prepare for possible emergency closures.

The weather pattern, referred to as an “atmospheric river,” consists of two Pacific storms with “abundant” tropical moisture, according to the National Weather Service.

Managers of Don Pedro Reservoir increased water releases this week, putting the highest amounts of water down the Tuolumne River in decades.

The National Weather Service predicts the amount of rainfall will cause the water level of the Merced River in Yosemite to rise past the flood stage this weekend, creating the possibility of flooding in the park and downstream.

The increase in water in the Merced River likely won’t push Merced Irrigation District to release water from Lake McClure, which is on the Merced River in Mariposa County. The reservoir serves as water storage and as a flood-control operation.

Currently, the reservoir holds about 45 percent of its capacity, MID said in a statement Thursday. MID typically won’t release water from the reservoir until it is at about 67 percent capacity, following requirements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Mike Jensen, a spokesman for MID.

The Merced County Office of Emergency Services spent much of Thursday on conference calls with county departments, the six incorporated cities, the weather service and irrigation districts to coordinate preparations and plan a response to any flooding.

In Merced County, Bert Crane Road near Bear Creek already was shut down Thursday, said Mike North, a county spokesman. The area is notorious for flooding, and residents are used to road closures and how to get around them.

County and city crews spent time this week clearing leaves and other debris from storm drains. Merced officials also worked with local service providers for the homeless to check local creeks to make sure no people are camping along streams.

Mayor Mike Murphy encouraged Merced residents to take care of their neighbors, especially the elderly, and to be careful while on the road.

“If you have to be out driving this weekend, please be careful and allow extra time to reach your destination,” he said in a statement. “If you have elderly neighbors, consider checking in on them to make sure they are OK. They could probably use some assistance or company.”

The National Weather Service forecasts a dry period in Merced on Friday, but the rain is due to return that night and continue into the weekend and next week.

Since the rainy season began in October, Merced has received more than 5 inches of rain, nearly 1 1/2 inches more than in a typical year. In just this first week of January, Merced has received about two-thirds of an inch, according to data from the National Weather Service.

This story was originally published January 5, 2017 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Major rain, possible flooding expected this weekend in Merced County."