Northern California is gearing up for a wintry mix as the National Weather Service in Sacramento has released a forecast predicting precipitation today and continuing through the upcoming week. According to the National Weather Service, the region should expect periods of rain and occasional heavy mountain snow through early Wednesday morning.
Brace yourselves for moderate to heavy snow if you're planning to traverse the Sierra. The National Weather Service is putting a Winter Storm Warning into effect for elevations above 5,500 ft until 4 AM Wednesday. Travelers taking routes south of HWY 50 should be particularly mindful as those areas are anticipated to bear the brunt. Light precipitation has already been spotted across the Coastal Range and in parts of the northern Sacramento Valley this morning, which is slated to spread southeast as the day unfolds.
As for rain, it's expected to grace primarily the foothills and mountains, with the Valley slated to receive less. The National Weather Service's National Blend of Models illustrates a 20 to 65% chance for the Valley to see rainfall totals of 0.5 inches or more leading up to Wednesday morning, with the northern San Joaquin Valley having the highest probability. Meanwhile, the higher elevations could see chances ranging from 40 to 80% for at least one inch of rain within that same time frame. Again, the southern parts of HWY 50 are where the action's predicted to be most intense.
Come Wednesday, the rain and snow are expected to lighten up, leading to clear, albeit breezier and cooler conditions for Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service warns of northerly winds gusting up to 25 and 30 mph Wednesday evening through early Thursday morning, which could influence temperatures especially on the western side of the Valley. The forecast suggests a 30 to 80% probability of overnight lows dipping below 36 degrees, predominantly along the eastern fringes of the Sacramento Valley.
The extended outlook through to next Monday hints at the potential for additional showers, primarily from I-80 south, as another trough edges toward southern California. However, these chances have diminished in the most recent forecasts, with just a 5 to 25% likelihood for 0.1 inches of precipitation or more. Beyond that, a building ridge could mean generally dry conditions and a return to normal temperatures right into early next week.
For aviation enthusiasts and professionals, the National Weather Service cautions that widespread MVFR/IFR conditions are likely over the next 24 hours due to the incoming weather. The northern Sacramento Valley can expect the heaviest precipitation through 00z Tuesday, but both the Valley and the mountains will experience moderate to heavy precipitation throughout this period. Additionally, gusts could reach up to 45 kts at times in the Sierra post 00z Tuesday.
