With smoke from Tulare County’s KNP and Windy fires lifting and improving the air, Valley residents can now look forward to the possibility of light rain tonight and  Friday.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for “much cooler temperatures, higher humidities, increased clouds and a chance of precipitation across much of our area by Friday morning.”

Rain and snow are expected in the Sierra, with up to a half-inch falling in Yosemite National Park, NWS Hanford said. The snow level will vary between elevations of 7,000 and 8,000 feet.

Weather.com’s 10-day Fresno forecast calls for daily highs between 67 and 77 degrees beginning Friday through Thursday, Oct. 14. That will be followed by a warm-up in the low 80s.

Not much in the way of precip is expected today. Showers are forecast to develop early Friday across the #SJV and then move into the #Sierra in the afternoon. #cawx #fresno #bakersfield #centralvalley pic.twitter.com/iNMI4Jh2m7

— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) October 7, 2021

Three Mountain Passes Will Close Today

Caltrans says it will close three mountain passes near the Nevada line between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite today as a precaution ahead of the storm.

Temperatures were plunging Wednesday in Reno and the Sierra’s eastern front ahead of the cold front. Highs were forecast to drop 10 to 15 degrees below normal today through Saturday with weekend lows near and below freezing in the Sierra, the NWS said.

Caltrans officials said the road closures on routes off of U.S. Highway 395 will begin at noon today on State Route 108 at Sonora Pass north of Bridgeport. State Route 89 at Monitor Pass south of Lake Tahoe will close at 2 p.m. and State Route 120 near Lee Vining at 5 p.m.

Highways could reopen on Saturday after Caltrans crews evaluate conditions.

(Associated Press contributed to this report.)