Storms sweep through Merced County. Here’s how much rain fell and what’s next
After several days of rolling thunderstorms that drenched the Merced area with heavy rain, gusty winds and cooler temperatures, skies have finally cleared.
However, the clear skies might be short-lived, according to the National Weather Service.
How much rain fell in Merced County? Are more rain clouds on the way?
Here’s what to know:
How much rain did Merced get?
Merced County saw significant rainfall during the latest round of storms.
Over the past seven days, the Merced region received roughly 4.1 inches of rain as of Friday, Feb. 20, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Based on data from the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the recent rainfall has pushed Merced’s seasonal total — which runs from July 1 through June 30 — to 9.3 inches.
On average, Merced receives about 12 inches of rain per year, with most of it falling between November and May.
In the past 25 years, the wettest season on record was in 2023, when 21.04 inches of rain fell between July 2022 and June 2023, according to the National Weather Service.
Is more rain coming to the Merced region?
In an area forecast discussion on Friday, Feb. 20, the National Weather Service said weather models show a warmer storm system moving in that could bring additional rounds of rain to the Central Valley and more snow to the Sierra Nevada.
Freeze warning issued for Merced County
Temperatures will trend colder for the remainder of the week, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather agency has issued a freeze warning for “a portion of central California” through 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21.
This will affect areas of Merced County — including the cities of Merced, Los Banos and Atwater — with temperatures as low as 28 degrees.
“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the weather agency said in the freeze warning issued on Friday, Feb. 20.
What’s in the weather forecast for Merced County?
Merced County can expect a mix of sunshine, clouds and a return of rain in the days ahead, according to the National Weather Service’s latest forecast.
On Friday, the Merced area was expected to be partly sunny, with light winds around 5 mph.
The overnight low could dip to around 32 degrees, the weather service said, while the daytime high is expected to reach about 52 degrees.
Saturday’s forecast calls for sunny skies, with winds between 5 and 10 mph. Gusts as high as 15 mph are possible. Temperatures will warm slightly, with a high near 60 and a low around 37.
Expect a high near 64 and a low around 40 on Sunday. Winds will sweep at around 5 mph.
There is a 20% chance of rain on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The high will be near 64, with a low around 52.
Rainy conditions are likely to continue from Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 26, forecasts show
