Series of weak systems over the area in the coming days

December 7, 2018 – Series of weak storms will pass over NorCal over the next several days but impacts are likely to be minimal with each of them. Storm passage on Monday will likely be the strongest of the bunch but precipitation now expected to remain light across the CWA. Valley fog will be possible between systems. Extended models showing a stronger, more impactful system at the end of next week but uncertainty this far out remains high.

Discussion

Upper ridge along the west coast bringing fair skies to the forecast area this morning. Clearer skies bringing cooler temperatures nearly all areas this morning with temperatures running about 5 to 15 degrees cooler than 24 hours ago. Some valley fog has formed in the San Joaquin valley but so far nothing significant.

A weak Pacific storm system pushing towards the Pacific Northwest this afternoon will spread some cloud cover over the CWA later today and this may help to trim a few degrees off today’s high temperatures but max readings are still forecast to come in a little above normal. This system may still bring some light showers to northwest Shasta county tonight but amounts will be quite light if the area gets any precipitation at all.

Farther south, clearer skies will allow valley fog to form again. Clearing skies in the afternoon again will allow daytime highs to jump right back up to a little above normal Saturday afternoon.

Next Pacific storm on track to approach the coast on Sunday. Models slowing this system down a little be so may not see any real precipitation getting in to the CWA until after sunset Sunday. This system is currently timed to move across the forecast area Sunday night and Monday. Precipitation amounts remain quite low through this time period with snow levels and light snow above about 5000 feet. Due to the light nature of the precipitation, debris flow over fires or mountain travel impacts are expected to be very minimal. Upper ridging begins pushing back in Monday night so should see any lingering shower activity ending from the west overnight.

Extended Discussion (Tuesday through Friday)

Extended forecast looks pretty inactive. Weak system forecast to move through Wednesday with another possibly later in the week (EC a little slower than the GFS).