Storm brings rain to Merced, snow to Mariposa County. Here’s what to expect this week
Heavy rain fell from early to late morning in the Merced area on Tuesday, but forecasters say they expect the clouds to part later in the day.
Although a chance of showers and potential thunderstorms will persist throughout the afternoon, precipitation will be spotty compared to the previous rainfall, said Bill South, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Hanford office.
Heavy rain began in Merced around 3 a.m. and tallied up to about 1.2 inches by 10:30 a.m., according to the NWS. The storm impacted much of the state, moving from north to south.
To the east, higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains around 5,000 feet will have received a couple of feet of snow by the time the current storm peters out. The highest mountain tops could get between 5-8 feet of snow, the NWS reported.
Even lower elevations down to 3,000 feet are projected to see 1 to 3 inches of snow this afternoon and into tonight.
The Merced area is expected to see about a 30% chance of rain Wednesday, growing to an 80% chance of rain by tomorrow night. NWS expects only around .3 inches of rain to fall between Wednesday and Thursday.
Forecasters caution travelers driving along Interstate 5 to be alert while passing through the Grapevine. The accumulated snow there will, “make travel a headache to say the least,” South said. “Be prepared for lengthy delays and possible road closures.”
In nearby Mariposa County, snowfall on the order of 3 inches has also been reported at 3,000 feet. Snow could be seen as low as 2,000 feet before it quits falling this evening, South said.
The Yosemite National Park region, however, is projected to see much heavier precipitation from the next storm, South said. That storm could drop 3-6 inches of snow in the Yosemite Valley and 1-2 feet in high elevations.
Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road beyond Badger Pass Ski Area in Yosemite National Park closed for the season due to the significant snowfall received Thursday, park officials recently announced.
The coldest days in the Yosemite Valley within the coming week will be Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday’s high is projected at 40 degrees and the low at 25 degrees, while Thursday’s high is expected at 42 degrees and the low 20 degrees, according to the NWS.
Yosemite temperatures are forecast to rise to around 50 degrees through Sunday, with low in the 20s.
Forecasters are projecting peak temperatures in the Merced region to hover just below 50 degrees for the rest of the week. Lows are expected to dip to 43 degrees Wednesday night, sink further to 38 degrees Thursday night and 35 on Friday, according to the NWS.
Although rain and snowfall amounts are still below average conditions, South said the most recent precipitation and the big storm in October have helped but a dent in the deficit. Still, several more similar storm will be needed to raise this year’s precipitation to normal.
