Sacramentans should prepare for a change in weather. According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, CA, today will be warm and dry, but a shift is expected by the weekend. Cooler temperatures, moderate rain, and mountain snow are forecasted for next week. Isolated thunderstorms may also occur Sunday afternoon.
The current clear skies are expected to be replaced by high clouds, ending the streak of clear nights. Today will start partly cloudy, with temperatures reaching the 60s to 70s, and potentially the 80s in the northern Sacramento Valley. Saturday will remain warm, with temperatures in the 60s to 70s for most areas. Rain is now expected to hold off until the early hours of Sunday, instead of arriving late Saturday as previously forecasted.
Those traveling to the Sierra or Shasta County should prepare for rainfall from Sunday through Monday. The projected rainfall includes up to 0.5 inches in the Valley and foothills, with up to an inch in higher elevations. Storms may bring heavy rain, gusty winds, and the possibility of hail or a brief funnel cloud. Snowfall above 5,000 feet could accumulate over 8 inches, which may result in travel delays and slippery road conditions.
Precipitation is expected to continue into the early part of the week, mainly affecting the mountain regions. There is a 20 to 30 percent chance of showers in the lower elevations on Monday, with temperatures likely to be below normal. Winds are forecast to come from the south-southwest at speeds of up to 25 mph on Sunday, then decrease and calm by Monday.
From Tuesday to Friday, a brief period of dry weather is expected, with Tuesday morning likely to remain dry. Another trough from the Pacific Northwest is forecast to arrive by Tuesday night, bringing rain and snow through Thursday. Snow levels are expected to start around 6,000 feet and drop to between 4,500 and 5,500 feet by midweek.
Weather models for the period beyond this week show a mix of zonal flows and weak ridging for Northern California. There is a possibility of another moisture event around March 8-11, though forecasts remain uncertain. The National Weather Service's NBM indicates that precipitation may continue during this period. Further details will become clearer in the coming days.
