It will be a wet and cold Christmas in central San Joaquin Valley. Here’s what to expect

It’s going to be a wet, cold Christmas in the central San Joaquin Valley.

As predicted, the first in a series of storm fronts moved through the area on Wednesday, bringing .4 inches of rain to Fresno and .45 inches in Visalia — and closer to an inch in Bass Lake and North Fork and more than an inch in Minarets.

That rain continued into Thursday and is expected to remain falling through Christmas, with a small break Friday night.

Parts of the Valley should see another one to two inches of rain before another break Sunday.

Sierra Nevada and Grapevine forecast

Rainfall will be in the three- to six-inch range for the area of the Sierra Nevada below the snowline, according to the National Weather Service, which has a Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra through Sunday. In the higher elevations (above 7,500 feet) snowfall will be heavy, possibly up to seven feet in some locations.

The weather could cause trouble for holiday travelers, especially though traveling Interstate 5 over Tejon Pass and the Grapevine. While snow amounts are expected at an inch or less, black ice could cause travel delays and/or road closures.

The whole thing then could reset, as another cold system moves into central California on Monday.

Fresno rain for month of December

Fresno is on course for one of the wettest Decembers in nearly a decade.

As of Wednesday, Fresno has recorded 2.17 inches or rain, well over historical norm for the month. In 2015, the city recorded just shy of three inches for the month. There was nearly six inches recorded in 2010.

This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 10:49 AM.