Record-breaking rainfall possible this weekend as Fresno braces for another storm

After a short breather, storm clouds laden with more rain and snow are moving relentlessly toward the central San Joaquin Valley, with an expected arrival Saturday.

The National Weather Service cautioned residents that a new “extensive rainfall event” could strike with the power of another atmospheric river, pounding rooftops and battering city streets already peppered with potholes from Tuesday’s major weather event.

Up to 1.5 inches of rain could fall in Fresno on Saturday, the weather service predicted, with another quarter- to half-inch on Sunday. That would put Fresno close to the region’s normal seasonal total of 10.99 inches, and also challenge the one-day record for the date of 1.15 inches, set in 1935. Already this week, Fresno saw 1.53 inches on Monday.

“I think it’s possible,” said meteorologist Antoinette Serrato of the NWS region office in Hanford.

Perhaps more concerning, the weather service said the snow level was expected to be at the 5,000-foot level, which could pose a threat of mudslides in regions of the Sierra devastated by the 2020 Creek Fire.

“We’re always watching them pretty closely,” said Serrato, of the scars.

A total of 1.5 inches of rain over the course of a day would not be expected to overwhelm the Fresno-Clovis flood control system, which is designed to manage a downpour of a half-inch an hour. But it will add to the workload for public works employees getting hammered by potholes.

A big repair job for Fresno County workers

Said Michelle Avalos of Fresno County’s Department of Public Works and Planning.

“We have had extensive issues countywide, ranging from rockslides, flooding, washed-out roads, mud and debris on roads, downed trees. And of course, potholes. We are responding to all issues as quickly as possible.”

Notably, the last downpour forced the closures of Highway 168 due to rockslides on the four-lane and Auberry Road due to erosion. Auberry Road remains closed.

Said Arthur Negrete, streets manager in Clovis:

“...There are lots of (potholes), most of the are relatively small and shallow. Our goal is to repair as many of them as possible before they get worse, which is caused by vehicles driving over them, as well as additional rain.”

Local reservoirs are filling up

The recent storms left Friant Dam filled to 83% of capacity on Thursday. That was 151% of average storage. Monday, the Bureau of Reclamation, in anticipation of possible flooding, increased releases into the San Joaquin River to make room for forecasted inflows going from 600 to 1,600 cubic feet per second, and planned to go to 4,500 cubic feet per second by week’s end.

Pine Flat Dam, holding Kings River water, was at 41% capacity, 113% of the average.

This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 5:10 PM.