A new system approaches late tonight, bringing widespread precipitation, mountain snow showers, and isolated thunderstorms through Friday. Dry and warming weather will follow over the weekend and into next week with periods of gusty north to east winds.
Discussion
We’re in a brief lull from precipitation at the moment, though more rain is expected to start up in Shasta County late in the morning, and will spread southward to the rest of interior NorCal overnight into Friday as a trough moves inland.
Precipitation totals have trended upward over the last 24 hours, with the NBM now showing a 60 to 95% chance of 0.5 inches of rain in the northern Sacramento Valley, foothills, and mountains on Friday. Elsewhere in the Valley, there is now a 40 to 80% chance of 0.25 inches of rain over 24 hours on Friday. Snow levels have lowered as well.
While still expected to start around 8000 to 9000 ft overnight on Thursday into early Friday, by late Friday afternoon they will fall to around 4500 to 5500 ft. The NBM has 24 hour probabilities of snow totals greater than 6 inches above 6000 ft currently at 40 to 70%.
Additionally on Friday afternoon and evening, there remains a 10 to 15% probability for isolated thunderstorms in the Valley and foothills, with highest chances in the northern portions of those areas.
Saturday, a few lingering mountain showers will be possible, though primarily dry weather is expected to return over the weekend and into next week as ridging builds over northern California. Temperatures will be in the mid to high 50s in the Valley, high 40s to 50s in the foothills, and 40s in the mountains over the weekend.
Extended Discussion (Monday through Thursday)
Upper ridging in EPAC extends inland over interior NorCal through the extended forecast period. Dry weather expected with areas of of gusty north to east wind at times. High temperatures forecast to be above normal through the extended period.