FRESNO (KMJ) — The rain forecast in the Central Valley this week is not expected to be a significant downpour, but there may be hope on the horizon.
“We’re looking at Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Some of the computer models are suggesting we might get a more significant system coming through here,” explained the National Weather Service’s Jim Bagnall.
“That’s still really iffy, but that would have better rainfall amounts. So we’re kinda crossing our fingers on that one.”
It comes as figures for December 2017 show only 2.3% of normal rainfall recorded at Fresno Yosemite International (click here to read more). The first week of 2018 is expected to bring less than 0.1 inches of rain. That is substantially less than the first week of 2017 which saw 1.48 inches, and the first week of 2016 saw 1.23 inches.
“By comparison it looks pretty dismal,” said Bagnall.
“However in 2015 we also didn’t have any precipitation through the first week of the year, so it’s not unprecedented. We do that: we have our dry years and our wet years.”
The reason for the current dryness is a stubborn ridge of high pressure over the Central Valley.
“We’re getting the strong, cold, deep, low pressure system along the East Coast. It’s causing them all their really cold weather.
“Typically the atmosphere compensates and provides a dry and warm area. This ridge that built up over us is pushing everything away from our area.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
