Significant rainfall expected

Madera can expect a return to rainfall today after nearly a week without storms.

“Overall, we’re just entering an unsettled weather pattern with multiple chances of precipitation through the weekend,” said Scott Rowe of the National Weather Service.

According to Rowe, chances of precipitation are less than 10 percent in the early morning, but will pick up by mid-afternoon. Between 4:00 and midnight, the chances of precipitation are expected to rise to 90 percent, with a prediction two-thirds of an inch of rainfall.

Madera had received 6.04 inches of rainfall for this season as of Tuesday, according to the Madera Irrigation District. That surpasses our 50-year average (5.99 inches) of rain for the season thus far, according to the Madera County Department of Agriculture.

Rowe said snow can be expected in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada region.

Three roads remained closed Tuesday due to the flooding from last weeks storms.

According to the Madera County Road Department website, Avenue 13 from Road 29 to Road 30, the Avenue 25 bridge at the Ash Slough, and Church Street in North Fork have all been closed. The roads are expected to remain down until the flood waters have receded.