Near-freezing temperatures and dry conditions return to the Valley as snow sticks in Sierra
Near-freezing temperatures are expected this week in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Some Valley cities, including Madera, could see temperatures as low as 33 degrees from Sunday through Wednesday nights, the National Weather Service in Hanford reported. In Fresno, temperatures could drop as low as 37 to 39 degrees during that time.
Maximum temperatures in the Valley are also lower than normal for mid-November, projected to be 11 to 13 degrees colder than normal on Sunday afternoon, and six to eight degrees colder on Monday afternoon.
Rain isn’t in the forecast. Dry weather should persist through the week, although NWS meteorologists expected a few snow showers in the Sierra Nevada on Sunday morning.
There’s already snow on the ground in many mountain places, including Yosemite Valley. Low temperatures at that popular Yosemite National Park destination are forecast to be in the 20s. Mountain towns experiencing freezing temperatures include Shaver Lake, ranging from the 20s to low 30s through Wednesday night, and Oakhurst, with lows from 31 to 35 degrees.
The National Weather Service said strong “Mono-type” winds are also expected in the Sierra on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Air quality in several Valley counties, including Fresno, was forecast as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” on Sunday by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The district prohibited residential burning for everyone in Fresno on Sunday, including those with a registered clean burning device. Moderate air conditions were reported late Sunday morning in Fresno by the Real-time Air Advisory Network.
This story was originally published November 13, 2022 at 11:45 AM.
