Snow levels could drop as low as 2,000 feet this weekend, which means you will only have to drive up to Auberry or Coarsegold to see some winter frosting.

A colder winter storm is scheduled to hit Central California on Saturday afternoon and continue through Sunday morning, bringing more snow to high elevations and a potential dusting to the foothills, Dan Harty, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Hanford, said Thursday.

Heavier snow will fall as low as 3,000 to 4,000 feet, with 6 inches to a foot of snow forecast from 4,000 to 6,000 feet and 12 to 18 inches of snow above 6,000 feet.

The National Weather Service has declared a winter storm watch, and drivers should prepare for some road closures as well as hazardous conditions. Needless to say, chains will be in order.

To keep an eye on snow and weather conditions in Yosemite National Park, check out these webcams for views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the Badger Pass Ski Area.

Big Waves Pummel Coast

If you’re thinking of heading west for a little beach time, be prepared for some gnarly wave action. The coastline has been hammered in recent days by high waves that have resulted in flooding and beach closures.

Videos have captured people fleeing from monster waves that crested sea walls, swamping people and vehicles, and leaving a thick layer of sand on beach town streets.

Waves as high as 16 feet are in the forecast for the central coast, according to the National Weather Service. The source is a powerful storm in the Pacific that is pushing waves eastward.

Meanwhile, patchy and sometimes dense fog is making Thursday somewhat gloomy across Fresno, which should see partly sunny weather later in the day and a high of 51 degrees.

 

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