Pineapple Express brings snow to Yosemite, rain to Valley

A winter storm that began Thursday has brought snow to Yosemite National Park, leaving almost 8 inches in higher elevations, according to Meteorologist Carlos Molina with the National Weather Service in Hanford.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday for mountain areas, and until 4 p.m. for the foothills. Snow levels are expected to drop to 3,500 feet by Friday morning at sunrise, Molina said, and foothill areas could see 4 to 7 inches of snow.

In the last 24 hours Fresno has gotten nearly a quarter of an inch of rain, and is expected to total out at about half an inch by the time clouds move east Sunday, Molina said. Rain will be sporadic for the next 36 to 48 hours.

As for snow, mountain areas will see double, or maybe triple what came down Thursday by Sunday, Molina said.

Also known as a Pineapple Express, cold air dropping down from Alaska and picking up moisture in Hawaii is causing the storm.

Molina said those driving to or in mountain areas should use caution, carry chains and watch for road closures.

“Once this storm moves through, looks like the next storm will push into Central California Tuesday through Wednesday,” Molina said, but Fresno may only see a tenth of an inch of rain with the new storm, as northern California will bear most of it.

This story was originally published March 1, 2018 at 8:42 PM with the headline "Pineapple Express brings snow to Yosemite, rain to Valley."