Overview:
So far the Merced County region has reported a total of 7.20 inches of rain for 2024, which is 3.27 inches above normal. That includes 3.55 inches of rain reported this month, and between an inch to 1.5 inches reported during the most recent storm system that began Friday evening.
Despite the blooming orchards, warming temperatures, and other indications that spring’s around the corner in Merced County – the large puddles and rising creeks are indications winter isn’t done with us yet.
National Weather Service forecasters say the storm that swooped into the Valley over Presidents Day weekend is expected to clear out by Thursday.
That means sunny weather into the weekend, and highs approaching 70 degrees by Saturday – the kind of conditions that favor either short sleeves or a sweater.
That might not last, however, as another storm system is expected to move into the region by early next week, bringing the possibility of more rain, according to Jim Bagnall, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Hanford.
So far the Merced County region has reported a total of 7.20 inches of rain for 2024, which is 3.27 inches above normal. That includes 3.55 inches of rain reported this month, and between an inch to 1.5 inches reported during the most recent storm system that began Friday evening.
Last year, the Merced County region reported around 7.27 inches of rain during the period from Jan. 1 through Feb. 20, Bagnall said.
No major flood repeats so far
Thankfully, the above-normal rain has not resulted in a repeat of the serious flooding that impacted parts of Merced and Planada a year ago.
Still, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been issues. County officials Tuesday afternoon closed the lower section of Hagaman Park due to flooding. The park is located along the Merced River, just south of Hilmar.
Officials said on social media the park typically floods due to its low elevation in certain spots during periods of high flows.
While the park’s upper parking lot is still open, officials ask that visitors follow all emergency signage.
On Monday, part of Highway 59 toward Snelling was briefly closed due to flooding, ABC 30 reported. Merced California Highway Patrol also posted video of various areas of concern on social media.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Bear Creek in Merced had a depth of about 7.8 feet near McKee Road, still well below the monitor stage of 17 feet, Bagnall said. That could rise to about 10 feet by Wednesday.
The storm has also brought a good amount of snow to mountain areas. The southern Sierra Nevada reported a snowpack of 78% to 80% normal for this time of year. “It wasn’t too long back it was around 50% so we’ve made up some ground,” Bagnall said.
A flood watch in Merced County is expected to lift early Wednesday.
Whereas the U.S. Drought Monitor had much of the Central Valley listed under “moderate” drought status in 2022, the last two years of rain have completely lifted the Valley and nearly all of the state from that designation.
“We are currently not in any kind of drought conditions, so this additional rain and snowpack will only help to keep us out of any drought,” Bagnall said.
Still, Bagnall said more normal to above normal years of rainfall will be necessary to keep California from sliding back into its moderate drought status.
The Merced FOCUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom covering Merced and the San Joaquin Valley. Email us at CVJC@CVLocalJournalism.org.