California not done with rain
Tahoe forecaster Bryan Allegretto says as of April 6 “Mostly sunny and mild through Wednesday. Then a pattern change to colder and unsettled weather starting on Thursday, the 9th, possibly lasting for 10+ days into the 3rd week of April. Rain and snow that could bring measurable snowfall to the mountains over the period.” This hopeful prediction comes as the latest monthly Tahoe snow survey found “no measurable snow.”
Indeed the whole state could get some significant rainfall May 15, 18 and 21 according to one GFS forecast.Here is a look at a prediction for May 18
There is more in the offing sooner as well from the Climate Prediction Center map seen below with rain hitting the south coast Thursday of this week.
The on -off switch for precip was definitely off in March with the Hanford National Weather Service office receiving just 0.06 of an inch all month when it would normally get about 1.7 inches in March.
Local rainfall picture in two charts
NWS precip charts for Hanford and Grant Grove tells the story of rainfall so far in 2026, both on the Valley floor and in the Sierra. In Hanford the there was 2.4 inches in the bucket since January ,about half the average (brown on chart). In the sierra the picture is brighter at about 15 inches so far compared to an average of 24 in.The 6000ft weather station was pounded with 65 inches in the winter of 1969.