MARYSVILLE – Caltrans is alerting motorists about a shift from multiple weeks of dry weather to a series of winter storms on their way to the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada that could create challenging travel conditions this weekend into next week.

For the Sacramento Valley and the foothills, a National Weather Service (NWS) Flood Watch has been issued from Friday evening through Sunday evening, with 2-4 inches of rain forecasted for the Valley and Delta, and 4-6 inches of rain possible in the foothills. Additional periods of moderate to heavy rainfall are expected for much of next week.

For the Sierra Nevada, a NWS Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for areas above 6,500 feet from Friday morning through Sunday morning. The NWS is forecasting 11-18 inches of snow with gusty winds up to 45 mph above 6,500 feet, which includes Donner Summit on Interstate 80 and Echo Summit on U.S. Highway 50. In the Lake Tahoe basin, snow levels are expected to fluctuate throughout the weekend with occasional shifts between rain and snow.

A colder, more impactful winter storm is expected to arrive Monday evening, with snow levels starting around 5,500 feet and lowering to 4,000 feet by Tuesday evening.

Motorists traveling in the Valley should be prepared for wet weather, additional travel times and possible delays. Caltrans advises that vehicles have properly functioning headlights and windshield wipers and not to drive through flooded roads. Motorists traveling into the Sierra are encouraged to have a full tank of gas or full charge, chains and extra supplies in the event of an emergency or if traffic is held for an extended period of time. Those supplies should include extra snacks, water, a blanket and a flashlight. Chain controls are anticipated.

Motorists are encouraged to check Caltrans’ QuickMap before traveling for current road conditions and chain requirements or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play. Road information is also available on Caltrans’ website or by calling the California Highway Information Network automated phone service at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).