FRESNO (KMJ) — The National Weather Service has warned of another band of wet weather about to strike the Central Valley.
Another surge of tropical moisture is due to arrive late this week, with the potential of some heavy rain, flooding, and debris flow.
“The equatorial Pacific evaporates a lot of moisture up into the atmosphere and periodically the jet stream will tap into that moisture, and that’s what’s happening this week,” explained Jerald Meadows with the National Weather Service in Hanford.
Meadows said this will not last as long as the rain in late March, but should be just as intense. Around an inch is expected to fall in many places.
“Snow is not going to be very heavy. It’s going to be limited because the snow levels are going to be pretty high because the moisture is coming from that equatorial Pacific so very warm moist air.”
That means snow levels will be at 10,000 feet up.
Another surge of tropical moisture arriving by late week. This has the potential to bring heavy rain, flooding, and debris flows, especially near recent burn scars. Snow will be mainly confined to the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/i9MAnaHfjb
— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) April 2, 2018
“This type of moisture for this time of year: it’s never actually been recorded based on the models we’re using today,” added Meadows.
“Not to say it hasn’t happened – it’s just outside of our statistical outlook.”
Drivers are advised to take extra caution while on the roads.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
