Still balmy today, temperatures to drop by Friday

Dry weather with above average high temperatures persist through Thursday. Snow, rain, and below normal temperatures expected Friday into the weekend.

Discussion

Zonal flow aloft will be across California today. Not a lot of change in the weather is expected today. A trough will begin to dig along the Pacific Northwest coast on Thursday. This may allow for minor warming over Wednesdays high but no significant changes from Wednesday’s weather.

Friday is when we are expecting significant changes in the weather as the low moves through the area. Most of the precipitation will be confined to the foothills and mountains but the valley may see some precipitation out of this system. Snow levels will lower during the day and early evening down to around 3500 to 4000 feet. A couple of inches of snow may be possible out of this system mostly over the higher elevations wtih lessor amounts down to around 4000 feet. Noticeably colder temperatures will happen on Friday and as the cold low moves over the region during the day the atmosphere looks to become unstable and may produce a few thunderstorms around the region. Breezy conditions look likely at times late Thursday night and Friday in the valley while windy conditions over the ridgetops will develop.

The low looks to continue to have some impact around the region on Saturday with some showers continuing mainly over the mountains. A couple of extra inches of snow may be possible with continued cold temperatures continue, especially for the mountains that looks to get colder.

Extended discussion (Sunday through Wednesday)

A weaker low pressure area forms on the backside of the trough and rotates through the region on Sunday that may continue to bring some showers to the interior but mostly over the foothills and mountains. Colder than normal temperatures will continue on Sunday.

A system will pass through the Pacific Northwest on Monday and a slightly stronger on on Wednesday. The first staying north of the region while the second one an inside slider may drop south enough to bring some light amounts of precipitation to the mountains. Temperatures look to be staying cooler than normal especially in the mountains during this time period.