Weather service predicts chance of thunderstorms in central San Joaquin Valley

Wednesday’s mild temperatures in the central San Joaquin Valley may give way to thunderstorms and other hazardous weather yet this week, the National Weather Service in Hanford said Wednesday evening.

The windy conditions in the Valley on Wednesday kept temperatures moderate, but wild weather was already hitting the west side and the Sierra:

▪ Due to heavy snow, Highway 120 will be closed from Yosemite National Park’s Crane Flat Campground to nearly four miles west of the Highway 395 and Tioga Pass connector ramp in Tuolumne and Mono counties, Caltrans officials said.

Most of the Sierra was experiencing wild weather Wednesday that included snow in some places and sleet and hail in others.

▪ Heavy rain was reported Wednesday evening on Interstate 5 west of Five Points.

The wind caused the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to issue a warning lasting until Thursday morning for an unhealthy amount of particulate matter in the air.

Meteorologists have predicted a slight chance of thunderstorms along the west side of the Valley on Wednesday night. There’s also a chance of continued stormy weather in the Sierra including lightning, erratic winds and brief bouts of heavy rain.

There will be a slight chance of thunderstorms over the Sierra foothills Thursday through Tuesday.

In the event of a thunderstorm, the National Weather Service advises residents to stay inside.

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Weather service predicts chance of thunderstorms in central San Joaquin Valley."