Fresno got less than half the rain of a normal March. What’s forecast for April?
The Fresno area got less rain than in a typical year for the month of March, and more dry and hot weather is likely through April, according to meteorologists.
March brought 0.74 inches, or about three-quarters of an inch, through the end of the month, and most of it hit on March 28, according to Jim Bagnall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford.
The month averages nearly 2 inches, but was 1.16 inches short of normal this year, according to records.
The rainy season in Fresno typically records 9.21 inches of rain through March, but this year has seen just 5.99, Bagnall said.
“We are experiencing drought conditions again,” he said. “The simple explanation is the storm track has been missing us and high pressures have been pushing it up north.”
He noted the Pacific Northwest has seen high amounts of rain, causing flooding.
The California Department of Water Resources’ Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit found Friday that March precipitation was not enough to outpace the amount of snowmelt, according to a news release.
The statewide snowpack sits at 38% of average to date, the department said. The statewide reservoir storage is at 48% of the system’s total capacity.
Traditionally, April 1 is when snow water content peaks, but California this year saw the content at its highest in mid-January, the department said.
Dry, hot April in Valley
The central San Joaquin Valley is expected to see more of the same in April, Bagnall said. The weather service predicts the month to be drier and warmer than the average April.
In the immediate future, Fresno could see record high temperatures in the 90s late next week, forecasters say.
There were several days of record highs on March 23, 24 and 25, when the highs were two days of 89 and one day of 90, according to meteorologists.
Forecasters say the Valley is in for a “temperature roller coaster” over the next week as highs continue to rise to about 82 Saturday, cool Sunday and Monday down to 76, and rise again Tuesday and Wednesday up to 86.
A high of 93 is predicted for Thursday, according to the service.
This story was originally published April 1, 2022 at 11:34 AM.
