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Finally, Valley gets some rain

Bee staff and news services

Friday, Mar. 08, 2013 | 07:34 AM

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After a relatively dry January and February, the Fresno area is getting some much-needed rainfall.

Fresno received .21 inches of rain and Tulare recorded .76 inches in the storm that started Thursday night, said Jim Andersen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford.

China Peak ski resort at Huntington Lake reported 4 inches of snow from the storm, with more falling Friday night.

Heavy showers were forecast for Friday night in the central San Joaquin Valley, and snow was possible at lower elevations in the southern Sierra. Cloudy skies and possibly more rain were expected today before the storm passes out of the area.

Before this storm, the last time the Fresno area had more than trace amounts of rain was Feb. 19-20.

The first wave of the storm brought Fresno's rainfall for the season (which runs July 1 to June 30) to 5.08 inches as of 4 p.m. Friday.

Average for this time of year is 8.45 inches, Andersen said.

Snowfall and ice shut down a section of Interstate 5 over the Grapevine Friday at 2 a.m., but it was reopened at 11 a.m., the California Highway Patrol said. Two inches of snow fell in Lebec on Interstate 5, which is at 3,800 feet, said Gary Sanger, a weather service meteorologist in Hanford.

Forecasters said building high pressure and a light offshore flow of air would bring a warming trend and clear weather to the region during the weekend and into the middle of next week.

Andersen said Valley floor temperatures should rise to the 70s by Sunday.


Visit fresnobee.com throughout the day for breaking news.

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