Sacramento residents can expect a burst of light showers and a dusting of mountain snow today, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS). While the precipitation is likely to be gentle, with the mountains north of Interstate 80 set to see the bulk of it, valley areas may receive less than a tenth of an inch, with some locales possibly left completely dry. The NWS report states, "Snow amounts will be around 1-3" for elevations above 6000 feet, with little to no impacts."
Alongside the showers, breezy conditions are in store, especially across northern and central parts of the Sacramento Valley and the northeastern foothills, where southerly winds blowing at around 15-25 mph could be a fixture. A slight chance for an isolated thunderstorm or two is on the radar, with a "10% probability of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and evening across eastern portions of Shasta and Tehama Counties." The report indicates, running up against a weakening weather system as it shuffles across the NorCal interior, as per the NWS report.
As the weak system makes its exit stage right into the Great Basin, a gusty escort of north-to-east winds will fill the void Thursday into Friday morning. The National Weather Service predicts wind gusts of 20-30 mph along the I-5 corridor, subsiding by late Friday morning. Fog could complicate visibility for early Thursday commuters, but the development of such will hinge on the direction of the winds. Strong ridging will subsequently foster a warm and dry climate heading into next week, pushing temperatures in the valley into the comfortable middle to upper 60s range.
The extended outlook remains auspicious with the established ridge promising a dry and unseasonably warm environment through the beginning of next week. Expect temperatures to flirt with higher digits, with "a 35-60% probability of high temperatures exceeding 70 degrees F throughout the Delta, Valley, and foothills this weekend," and them even escalating further "to 50-90% Monday through Wednesday," pointing towards a toasty outlook for the northern/central Sacramento Valley. Occasional bouts of those breezy conditions will continue to make fleeting appearances, as per the NWS report.
