Could an atmospheric river arriving in California on Wednesday enable the state’s all important snowpack to achieve a rare trifecta?

The last survey at the end of February estimated the snowpack at 85% of normal. However, a strong finish to the wet season could give California three straight years of normal or above-normal snowpack for just the third time in nearly 50 years.

The last time trifecta came in the winters of 1998-2000 and, before that, 1978-80.

The amount of snow that accumulates in the Sierra Nevada is still to be determined, but meteorologists agree that the atmospheric river heading California’s way will blanket the mountains with snowfall and drench cities and foothills with rain. The depth of the snowpack on April 1 is when it usually peaks.

Blizzard Conditions in Parts of the Sierra

Unlike the warm storms that have hit California since fall, this next weathermaker is expected to be cold, dumping 1 to 3 feet of snow above 4,000 feet and up to 4 feet at the highest Sierra elevations.

Mountain passes could be to shut down from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning because of the snow. The National Weather Service is predicting wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph.

Fresno Rain Forecast

Meanwhile, the NWS Hanford forecast for Fresno has a 50% chance of rain late Wednesday morning and into the afternoon followed by a 100% chance that night with wind gusts up to 20 mph.

The forecast also calls for  a 90% chance of precipitation on Thursday, falling to 40% Friday and to 20% Saturday as the storm clears out.

All together, Fresno is expected to receive at least an inch of rain and the total could go higher if thunderstorms materialize Thursday.

Heavy Rain in the Foothills

Much more rain is anticipated in the foothills. Here are the NWS probabilities for the following locations to receive 2 inches or more of rain:

Yosemite Valley 70%
Wawona 83%
Mariposa 61%
Oakhurst 60%
Coarsegold 42%
Yokuts Valley 33%
Three Rivers 24%
Pine Flat 57%
Kernville 26%

Sector Images_ U.S. Pacific Coast – NOAA _ NESDIS _ STAR

Access the snow sensor report at this link.

The snow depth survey is at this link.