Weekend forecast: Short respite gives way to showers Saturday in Valley

The central San Joaquin Valley can expect to see more rain showers this weekend.

Following a string of showers this week, Friday will provide a break, with the National Weather Service forecasting no chance of rain in Fresno. But there’s a 70 percent chance of precipitation as soon as Saturday morning that will likely be felt Valleywide.

There’s a slight chance of rain on Monday and Wednesday, as well.

“In general, the Valley got a pretty healthy dose of precipitation. We’ve got storms lining up over the Pacific, and that storm train is going to continue to chug along,” said Kevin Durfee, a weather service meteorologist in Hanford. “More water coming to California is always good.”

According to early morning totals on Thursday, Fresno received 1.13 inches of rain since Tuesday morning, and Merced received 1.10 inches. Madera, Hanford and Visalia all saw less than an inch.

One to three feet of new snow fell on the Sierra between Tuesday and Thursday.

The California Highway Patrol called for chains to be required on vehicles driving on Highway 168 from Pineridge to the east end of Huntington Lake. Chains were also required in Madera County at Cedar Valley Road along Highway 41, north of Oakhurst.

Madera County Public Works plowed snow in the Bass Lake area Wednesday and Thursday, removing six to eight inches from the roads.

Madera County saw two minor mudslides Wednesday night, one near Road 415 and another on Road 400. Both were cleaned up before Thursday morning.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Weekend forecast: Short respite gives way to showers Saturday in Valley."