Light Rain is Forecast Through Saturday

Light rain is expected to fall in Sierra Madre beginning overnight and into midday Friday with clearing Friday night and Saturday.  The National Weather Service reports that any rain will not exceed a half inch anywhere, with the foothills the most likely areas to receive rain.  Thunderstorms are possible and if they occur would produce heavy showers in some locations.  Highs in Sierra Madre Friday will be 55 degrees with lows in the mid-forties.

Meanwhile, the State continues to receive snowfall, dumping in the Sierras atop snow depths well over 100 inches.  The northern parts of the state also have snow pack that measures over 200 inches in places like the Feather River region. Depending on elevation, anywhere from 5 to 9 inches could fall, the Weather Bureau said.

Snow is predicted for both Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear in the San Bernardinos starting this afternoon.  Afternoon temperatures are already at 38 degrees in Big Bear and 33 degrees at Lake Arrowhead.  There could be between four and eight inches of new snow at elevations above 5,000 feet, but only two to four inches below that height.

The Department of Water Resources, in its March 30 water report has measured water in statewide reservoirs at 171% of average as of the reporting date.  The report says, "A majority of the state's major reservoirs are above normal storage levels for the date".  The DWR specifically names Lake Oroville in Butte County, which they call the State Water Project's principal reservoir, as being at 104% of average for the date and they say it now measures 80% of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity.  Lake Shasta, the federal Central Valley Project's largest reservoir is currently at 91% of capacity.