February 16, 2018 – Dry and milder weather for the remainder of the week. Next system brings a chance of showers to mainly the mountains on Sunday followed by below average temperatures early next week with a possible widespread freeze.
Discussion
Other than some high clouds dropping down from the north, skies are clear across interior NorCal early this morning. Lighter winds and a drier airmass are allowing for cooler temperatures through much of the Central Valley with current readings mostly in the 30s. The north end of the Sacramento Valley is the exception with readings remaining in the 40s with light north winds. Elsewhere, current temps range from the upper teens in the mountain valleys to the lower 40s in the thermal belts.
Dry and milder weather will continue today and Saturday with decreasing north wind.
The persistent amplified upper air pattern is forecast to retrograde a bit beginning late in the weekend. This will allow another system to drop down from the north on Sunday. Similar to the past several, QPF is forecast to be light and mainly confined to the mountains where a few showers may linger thru Monday.
The bigger impact from this system will be to draw much colder air southward into NorCal early next week. Portions of the Central Valley may see freezing minimum temperatures as early as Monday morning with the potential for more widespread freezing temperatures on Monday night/Tuesday morning as skies clear and north wind slacken a bit. Mountain areas will be downright cold with many areas seeing minimums in the single digits and teens.
Extended discussion (Tuesday through Friday)
Drier northerly flow aloft over Interior NorCal Tuesday will result in CAA with below normal temperatures. Tuesday morning low temperatures expected below freezing throughout much of the Central Valley resulting in areas of frost and potential damage to early budding plants. Weak upper trough moves through Tuesday night into Wednesday but only some clouds expected. Dry weather forecast through the remainder of the week with temperatures gradually trending up to above normal.