April 24, 2017 – Several weather systems move through bringing cooler temperatures with some light precipitation through Wednesday.
Discussion
Light rain has made it about as far south as I-80 early this morning as deeper moisture extending across the eastern Pacific interacts with a weather system pushing into far northern California. Observed rainfall amounts overnight have ranged from a few hundredths of an inch in the Sacramento Valley to around a quarter to half an inch in the foothills and mountains east of Redding and Red Bluff. Current temperatures are in the 30s and lower 40s in the mountains with mid 40s to mid 50s elsewhere.
Moisture will continue to stream into the area over the next 24 hours continuing a threat for light precipitation as the front lingers across NorCal. The Sacramento area may see a few hundredths of an inch of rain early this morning, but most of the QPF will remain to the east of the valley over the foothills and northern Sierra. Scattered showers may redevelop this afternoon.
Snow levels are around 5500-6500 feet early this morning and are not expected to change much into early Tuesday. Around 2-4 inches of snowfall accumulation will be possible along the crest of the northern Sierra with perhaps 6 inches up around the Mt Lassen area.
Another weather system is forecast to skirt the region later Tuesday into Wednesday. Most of the precipitation will be over the mountains north of I-80 but a few showers may affect the north end of the Sacramento Valley. Snow levels will be high and accumulating snow is only expected over the tips of the highest peaks.
Breezy north winds along with warming and drying conditions commence Thursday.
Extended discussion (Friday through Monday)
High amplitude upper ridging in the EPAC builds inland over Interior NorCal Friday into the weekend bringing dry weather with warming temperatures. Gusty northerly wind expected Friday into Saturday which may require wind advisories. Above normal temperatures forecast over the weekend with highs climbing into the lower 80s in the Central Valley Sunday and Monday.