Sacramento is starting off clear and crisp on Saturday morning, April 18, with the KSAC observation hovering near 45°F. Sunshine is expected to take over through the day, sending afternoon highs into the upper 70s and making this the warmest, driest stretch before a Pacific storm moves in late Sunday night into Monday, April 20. If you have picnic plans, yard work on deck or a hike in mind, today and Sunday afternoon are your best bets before the weather flips back to wet.
Weekend Outlook
Saturday, April 18 is on track to be sunny with a high near 79°F and light west to southwest winds. By Saturday night, clouds will start to rebuild, with skies turning mostly cloudy and lows settling around 54°F. Sunday, April 19 should hold onto partial sunshine with a high near 77°F and only a slim chance for daytime showers. According to the National Weather Service, winds stay light through the weekend, so it will feel more like a pleasant spring break than a storm setup.
Storm Returns Late Sunday Night
An upper low is forecast to arrive late Sunday night into Monday, April 20, bringing rain chances back to the region Monday and more widespread precipitation Monday night into Tuesday, April 21. Showers and thunderstorms become most likely on Tuesday, April 21, when valley highs are expected to slide into the low 60s. In the mountains, snow levels should start around 6,000 to 7,000 feet Monday before dropping to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 feet Tuesday into Wednesday, April 22, which is enough to cause mountain travel delays and possible chain controls. For more context on how this system is shaping up, see the earlier storm preview. According to NWS Sacramento, there is also a modest chance of thunderstorms during the event.
Travel And Safety
If you are planning a trip to trailheads, parks or outdoor events, use Saturday as your main travel window, since road and mountain conditions are expected to deteriorate after Sunday night. Drivers headed to the Sierra should be ready for snow and possible chain controls, and should check Caltrans QuickMap for the latest chain control and road condition updates. In the valleys, commuters can expect wet roads and slower travel on Monday and Tuesday. There are no active watches or warnings for the Sacramento area this morning, but forecasters still recommend checking official updates before heading out, so the only surprise you get is how quickly the sunshine disappears.
