The National Weather Service in Sacramento is calling all fog enthusiasts and rain contemplators to gear up for a mixed bag of weather that's coming our way. According to the National Weather Service forecast, we'll see patchy morning valley fog rolling in before swapping clear skies for potential precipitation this Wednesday. Get ready to bask in warmer, above-normal temps as the weekend approaches, bringing along a hint of spring in February.
Prepare for minimal visibility this morning if you find yourself in the eastern half of the Valley, with the National Weather Service citing a "50 to 70% chance of visibilities less than a half mile." But don't get lost in the fog just yet; as the day progresses, skies should clear up. Highs in the valley localize in the mid to low 60s, while the foothills and mountains brace for a chillier range of 50s to low 60s and low 40s to mid-50s, respectively. Breezes coming from the north may gust up to 15 mph in the valley.
Wednesday's travelers should anticipate light snowfall in the mountains, expecting accumulations between 1 and 3 inches above 6000 feet, according to the National Weather Service. This brief wet spurt is the result of a "quick-moving system," which is likely to drop a smattering of rain from a trace to half an inch, heavier in the mountains, with snow levels possibly falling to 5000-5500 feet.
Looking ahead to the weekend, those pining for spring might just get their wish. The weather wizards at the National Weather Service predict burgeoning ridges will lead us into a dry and warm finale for our week, with "30 to 50 percent probabilities of reaching 70 deg F" through the valley and foothills. Those probabilities jump higher still to the 50 to 70 percent range come next Monday and Tuesday.
In the realm of aviation, expect the fog to cause some headaches with "MVFR/IFR/LIFR conditions" on the east side of the Valley through the morning, so pilots and passengers alike should be ready for potential delays. Once the fog lifts, normal flight operations should resume. Surface winds remain under 12 knots, but come Wednesday, flyers might face "locally breezy southerly winds," as noted by the National Weather Service.
