The Sacramento area is bracing itself for continued rough weather as two more systems roll through this week. The latest forecast discussion, released early Tuesday morning, warns of moderate to heavy rain, mountain snow, and gusty winds all week. Commuters should be wary of major mountain travel impacts, including chain controls on mountain highways due to heavy snowfall, and ponding water on roads in the valley leading to tricky driving conditions, according to the National Weather Service Sacramento CA.
Butte County and nearby areas have been hit hard by heavy rainfall, with some places getting over four inches in the last 24 hours. Flooding and mudslides on roads, especially in mountain and foothill regions, are making travel difficult. A Flood Advisory has been issued for several counties, warning of minor flooding in low areas. The forecast expects 2 to 3 inches in the valley, 3 to 5 inches in the foothills, and 3 to 7 inches in the mountains below 5500 feet from this morning through tonight, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Avalanches of snow are also bombarding the Sierra region, prompting a Winter Storm Warning until Wednesday morning, with "1 to 3 feet expected above 5500 feet, up to 4 feet over Sierra peaks, up to 5 feet in Lassen Park," and potential for whiteout conditions due to high wind gusts. In the Valley and Delta areas, gusty southerly winds of 40 to 50 mph are forecasted, extended by the Wind Advisory in place until tonight for Northern California regions, as stated by the National Weather Service.
Wednesday may bring a reprieve with less intense precipitation and gusts tapering off to breezy conditions. Some parts of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley might even catch glimpses of sunshine. The cold snap is set to introduce fresher temperatures, with the probability of thermometers dropping below 35F in the Valley. However, this lull is the calm before another storm as late Wednesday night is expected to pick up in intensity again, as per the National Weather Service.
Looking ahead into the weekend and early next week, a shift towards drier weather is forecasted, according to the National Weather Service. The region could experience a cold snap with widespread frost, and temperatures in the mountains plunge into the teens and single digits. Travelers and residents alike should stay updated on the latest weather advisories and prepare for continued winter challenges.
