Unsettled weather continues into the weekend as an anomalously cold system brings showers, isolated thunderstorms, breezy winds and mountain and foothill snow. Drier and warmer weather returns next week.
Discussion
Radar shows plenty of showers with light to moderate precipitation continuing near the low center from the Sacramento area south into the northern San Joaquin Valley. An arc of lighter precipitation extends from the central Sacramento Valley up into the far northern Sierra/southern Cascades. Snow levels remain very low – around 1500 ft or so with accumulations occurring down into the foothill elevations.
Current temperatures are cooler compared to 24 hours ago and are in the teens and 20s in the mountains, and in the upper 30s to mid 40s across the Central Valley. Winds are generally light – less than 10 mph in most areas.
The upper low will slowly drift east into the Great Basin today. Shower activity is forecast to taper off from the north across the valley this morning, though channeled vorticity on the backside of the system will support redevelopment of showers and a few thunderstorms this afternoon.
Intermittent snow showers will continue through the day across the northern Sierra with additional snowfall accumulation of 4-8 inches expected through this evening before snow showers end. A Winter Weather Advisory continues.
Drier and milder conditions return for the weekend, except for some light showers expected over the mountains Saturday night and Sunday as another piece of energy drops down from the Gulf of Alaska. Breezy north to east winds and warmer temperatures will be possible on Monday as ridging begins to build over the region.
Extended Discussion (Tuesday through Friday)
Upper ridging in EPAC Tuesday builds inland over interior NorCal and remains dominant synoptic feature through the week. This will result in dry weather with a warming trend. Above normal temperatures expected with NBM forecast highs in the Central Valley around 80 by Wednesday and lower 80s Thursday and Friday, about 10-15 degrees above normal. Locally gusty north to east wind possible early Tuesday.