March 7, 2019 – Mountain travel will be impacted with lingering snow showers today and Friday. Additional showers will be possible over the weekend.
Discussion
Cloudy skies continue across the region in the wake of Wednesday’s frontal passage. Radar indicates scattered showers continuing, mainly across the southeastern half of the forecast area. Current temperatures are a little cooler compared to 24 hours ago and generally range from the 30s in the mountains to the upper 40s to lower 50s across the Central Valley.
Scattered showers will continue today into Friday as the main part of the offshore trough moves toward SoCal.
Snow levels have lowered to around 4500-5000 ft. Overall QPF will be lighter allowing the winter storm warning to be downgraded to an advisory. Nevertheless, another 4 to 8 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts, can be expected across the northern Sierra today.
Short wave ridging provides a brief break in the precip Friday night into Saturday. However, more short wave energy rotating south off the coast digs the trough resulting in a a positively- tilted upper trof for the weekend. Some light showers are forecast to return to our CWA by Sat afternoon.
Extended Discussion (Monday through Thursday)
Mainly dry on Monday as large upper low to the south of the CWA progresses as weak short wave ridging moves over NorCal. This is followed by another short wave trough Tue that brings a threat of precip over Interior NorCal. High pressure rebuilds over the area midweek bringing dry weather with some breezy northerly wind.