Bundle up, Fresno. Near-freezing temperatures over New Year’s weekend in Central Valley
Following two winter storms that dumped rain on the central San Joaquin Valley and snow on the foothills, Fresno-area residents should prepare for near-freezing temperatures over the upcoming holiday weekend, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.
Fresno will see daytime highs in the upper 40s on New Year’s Eve on Friday but near-freezing temperatures overnight, said Modesto Vasquez, a meteorologist for the weather service in Hanford.
The first days of 2022 will see nighttime temperatures sink to around 32 degrees outside Fresno while hovering around 35 degrees in the city.
The cold weather should last throughout the weekend and reach near-freezing levels during the weekend mornings.
Vasquez said temperatures should drop to around 33 degrees on Sunday morning and 34 degrees on Monday morning.
The upper Sierras and Tehapachi Mountains could see some showers, but the lower valley communities should be relatively dry.
Drivers should watch out for black ice on the road formed by this week’s rains and the freezing temperatures, said Vasquez.
He also offered a piece of advice: “Dress warmly,” said Vasquez.
Snow has fallen at elevations as low as 2,000 feet in the foothills outside Fresno, but the city missed out on its chance for any snow this week. Forecasts that Fresno had a 10% chance of seeing snowfall, which would have been the first snow in the city since 1998.
“Earlier on, it had looked like there might be some snowflakes down in the Valley,” said Vasquez. “That didn’t materialize.”
Fresno warming centers open this weekend
For those who need a warm place to go this weekend, the city of Fresno will open it’s warming centers from 7:30 p.m. to - 7 a.m. from Friday through Sunday.
The two warming centers are located at:
- Fresno Rescue Mission located at 263 G St, Fresno
- Ted C. Wills Community Center located at 770 N San Pablo Ave, Fresno
The warming centers open for community members when temperatures reach 38 degrees or below.
