Sacramento woke up to clear skies and a crisp chill Thursday, with temperatures hovering in the mid 40s at Sacramento Executive Airport. That calm start will not last long. A Wind Advisory is in effect for the Sacramento Valley through 11 PM PDT Thursday, and north northwest gusts are expected to ramp up through midday and into the afternoon commute. The result: blustery conditions on bridges, in open corridors and across the Delta that can toss around patio furniture and make life difficult for high profile vehicles.
Afternoon Gusts Take Over
North northwest winds are forecast to strengthen into the 9 to 20 mph range today, with gusts commonly reaching 30 to 40 mph by afternoon, according to the National Weather Service Sacramento. The office's point forecast calls for local gusts up to 31 mph and flags the potential for isolated stronger gusts near 40 mph in more exposed corridors. The advisory notes that "Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution."
Commute And Outdoor Plans
Those gusty crosswinds could make merging and bridge crossings a little dicey during the afternoon commute, so give extra space to big rigs and recreational vehicles and ease off the gas if conditions start to feel unstable. Around the house, now is the time to lock down loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, umbrellas and trash bins before the strongest gusts arrive. For up to the minute transit alerts and rider notices, check SacRT.
Weekend Outlook
High pressure builds back in Friday and Saturday, bringing dry and warmer weather with afternoon highs in the mid 70s. A faster moving trough is expected to swing through Sunday into Monday, which raises the odds for light rain Sunday night into Monday and mountain snow above roughly 5,500 to 6,000 feet. Timing and coverage could still shift, so keep an eye on updates if you have outdoor plans.
What To Watch
If the stronger gusts bring down tree limbs or trigger a localized power outage, report hazards to local authorities and follow your utility's outage guidance. Keep phones charged, secure anything that could turn into a windblown projectile, and avoid standing under large trees during the windiest part of the afternoon and evening.
