Dramatic cooling in store for Merced by Wednesday, forecasters say

The daily high temperature in the Merced area should fall more than 10 degrees between Monday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday and Wednesday also bring a slight chance of rain and expected snowfall in the Sierra.

After Merced saw temperatures in the mid-70s on Monday, temperatures also were forecast to go above 70 on Tuesday with increasing clouds.

Tuesday night is expected to be mostly cloudy, with a 10 percent to 20 percent chance of showers overnight and into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A mostly sunny sky will return Wednesday, but the high temperature should be only near 65. Thursday looks to be much the same as Wednesday.

Friday, also sunny, will be a bit warmer, with an anticipated high of 68 degrees.

Saturday will be partly sunny with a slight chance of rain and a high near 71. The forecast for Sunday is the same.

The Los Banos area also is forecast to see temperatures drop, from the mid-70s Monday and Tuesday to the mid-60s on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service said the West Side of the county could expect mostly sunny skies.

The incoming weather system also is predicted to bring snow: 3 inches to 4 inches to the Ebbetts and Sonora passes, and 2 inches to 3 inches to Tioga Pass by Wednesday night.

This story was originally published November 14, 2016 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Dramatic cooling in store for Merced by Wednesday, forecasters say."