The National Weather Service in Sacramento has announced a forecast of gradual warming mixed with gusty winds for Northern California starting from late tonight through early next week. Dry conditions and warming temperatures are expected, with daytime highs in the 50s to 60s for the Valley and slightly cooler in the foothills and mountains.
Visibility in parts of the Central Valley and Southern Sacramento/Northern San Joaquin Valley may drop below half a mile until 5 p.m. today due to patchy fog, challenging morning commuters, the National Weather Service urges drivers to "slow down and turn on low beam headlights when driving through fog." Gusty conditions will develop as a strong pressure gradient forms, and winds are predicted to pick up pace in the Valley west of Interstate 5 and reach their peak over the Sierra Nevada, with potential impacts on travel and outdoor activities.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday for several areas, including the Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley and West Slope of the Northern Sierra Nevada. Mountainous and foothill regions could see wind gusts of 60 mph or higher. The National Weather Service advises people in these areas to exercise extra caution while driving, stay alert during outdoor activities, and secure loose objects like holiday decorations.
The extended forecast indicates that the Eastern Pacific upper ridge will control the weather pattern, maintaining dry conditions and above-normal temperatures well into the week, even as a few weak waves move across the region these flows are not expected to bring precipitation but will encourage gusty winds to continue, particularly from Saturday into early next week.
