Storm brings more snow to Yosemite National Park, light rain to Merced, say forecasters
Tuesday’s rain was a welcome break from the long dry spell Merced has seen in recent weeks.
However, Merced didn’t get nearly enough rain to alleviate drought conditions during this last downpour – only 2/100ths of an inch of rain fell on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
“That’s nowhere close,” said David Spector, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Hanford. “Merced’s running way behind. What happened yesterday just put a small dent in the overall drought picture.”
Other parts of the Valley saw higher levels of rainfall. Fresno reported less than a tenth of an inch through 3 a.m. Rain was heavier in Tulare County, where Visalia got nearly a half-inch, according to the service. Visalia also saw thunderstorms and hail. The Grapevine and Tehachapi Pass each saw significant snow, according to Caltrans.
Spector added Merced is running 4.02 inches below normal since the first of the year, and 1.80 inches below normal since Oct. 1, 2021.
“I’ve seen hints we might have a wet period in mid-March,” Spector said. “But it looks like the next week or so is going to be dry.”
Yosemite sees more snow
While the Yosemite Valley and the higher ranges didn’t yet submit any official reports to the NWS office in Hanford as of Wednesday morning, the initial information the NWS has about snowfall in Yosemite indicates that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell from the Tuesday storm, based on precipitation totals.
According to the NWS, Yosemite Valley received about 2 inches of snow on Tuesday, with estimates of double that amount in the higher elevations.
“We received about another inch overnight last night,” said Scott Gediman, public affairs officer for Yosemite National Park. “Road conditions were slick and slippery and we closed a portion of Big Oak Flat Road last night due to the icy conditions.”
Big Oak Flat Road reopened again today, Gediman added, and as of noon on Wednesday, it was bright and sunny in Yosemite Valley.
The Tuesday rainfall was the first rain Mercedians have seen since Jan. 17, a brief, yet ineffective, respite from the drought conditions that have long plagued the area.
Merced County is still under severe drought, like most of the state, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, which reported that last month was the second-driest January for the county on record in 128 years.
While no rainfall is expected for the rest of the week, the NWS issued a freeze warning for the San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday, and urged locals to protect delicate plants, wrap pipes to prevent bursting and drain in-ground sprinkler systems.
Low temperatures will hover around 25 to 30 degrees through most of the valley into Thursday morning, with a slight increase to 33 degrees for the low temperature this weekend.
The Fresno Bee contributed to this report.