Rain predicted for Fresno this week. But first, it’s going to get warm. Here’s the forecast

Last week’s cold snap brought freezing temperatures, snow and hail to parts of the the central San Joaquin Valley and shut down the Grapevine into Southern California.

Things are expected to warm up this week, with higher-than-normal temperatures expected before another storm front enters the area just ahead of the weekend.

The National Weather Service is predicting the warm trend through Wednesday, when temperatures could reach eight to 12 degrees above seasonal norms.

Some parts of the Valley could get close to 80 degrees, the weather service said.

The afternoon high in Fresno is expected to be north of 70 degrees on Monday.

Temperatures will return to normal, or slightly below, on Thursday as a trough of low pressure moves in from the Gulf of Alaska.

It will bring with it cloud cover and winds, and a chance of precipitation.

It won’t be much. The weather service is predicting less than a quarter of an inch for most of the San Joaquin Valley, with a quarter to half of an inch possible in the foothills. Snow levels will be around 6,000 feet and produce up to 4 inches of snow closer to Yosemite National Park. Trace amounts are expected at lower elevations.

The bulk of rain is expected for Thursday afternoon into late evening, though another system of storms could move into the region Friday night into Saturday morning and then Saturday night into Sunday.

Fresno has experienced a dry start to 2022.

Last Tuesday’s rain total, the first significant amount since December, was just .04 inches.

This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 10:08 AM.