Cold storm washes away dry spell Modesto had been suffering. And more rain on way

A cold storm system that arrived in the Modesto area Saturday finally ended a dry spell dating back to the Modesto Irrigation District’s last measurable rainfall on Jan. 26.

Between 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday, one-tenth of an inch fell in Modesto, according to the MID. Sunday as of noon, the city had received an additional 0.21 inches.

The National Weather Service’s snow forecast through Monday says flakes will be falling as low as 2,000 feet but heaviest accumulations are above 3,000. Sonora Pass is predicted to receive between 2 and 3 feet, while Tioga Pass could get up to 2 feet.

The cold storm will help the light snowpack in the central Sierra Nevada, Modesto’s main source of water. Thursday, the state Department of Water Resources said the Central Sierra “snow water equivalent” is just 37 percent of normal for the date.

The seven-day forecast for Modesto said the chance of showers Sunday night is 90 percent, with between a tenth and a quarter inch of rain possible.

Monday, the chance of rain drops a bit to 80 percent, but with up to half an inch possible, the weather service says. By Monday night, the chance falls to 50 percent, but still as much as a quarter inch more is predicted.

The 50 percent chance of rain continues into Tuesday, the weather service says, giving no number on how much or little might fall.

Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be mostly sunny, and then a chance of rain returns Friday and Saturday.

The current daily highs also stand in strong contrast to some dates over the past month. Feb. 28, for example, reached 82 degrees, and March 4 hit 80. Just Thursday, the high in Modesto was 78, according to the MID. But the anticipated high for Sunday was just 58 degrees, and Monday is predicted to reach just 53, according to the weather service.

Over the week, daily highs are forecast to gradually increase, reaching near 65 by Saturday.