Valley rain and mountain snow showers today then mild and dry through Friday. Valley and foothill thunderstorms possible late morning and afternoon. Another chance for higher amounts of widespread Valley rain and mountain snow this weekend.
Discussion
A weak storm system is moving through the region today. This will be a warm system with snow levels varying at times between 7000 and 8000 feet early this morning. Snow levels will lower especially between 7 am and noon to a little below pass levels on I-80 and US-50. Minimal snow impacts are expected but there still is a chance that chains could be required during this time.
The system is not that conducive for thunderstorms but maybe over the northern half of the Sacramento valley we could see a couple of post frontal Thunderstorms.
Rainfall amounts are not expected to be large with this system with valley amounts generally around a quarter inch or less for most locations. Mountain areas are expected to receive anywhere from around a quarter inch to an inch of rain.
A ridge of high pressure builds in briefly to bring the return of dry and warm temperatures for Wednesday. By Thursday the flow over the Pacific starts to become more zonal with a dry weak shortwave moving through the northern part of the forecast area. Week riding returns for Friday ahead of a storm system due in this weekend.
Extended Discussion (Saturday through Tuesday)
A storm system will be moving over the region on Saturday. This one will be much colder than the current one. Snow levels look to start out around 5500 feet and lower Saturday night into Sunday down to around 3000 to 3500 feet.
It’s not a big system but its looking like it will will at least bring some rain to region. Right now it looks like the valley could get between a quarter of an inch to a half an inch of rain with the foothills and mountains between a half an inch to an inch of rain.
Resort levels could get between 6 and 12 inches of snow. Post frontal we might be able to see some thunderstorms around the region.
A ridge will build over the area behind the system for the first part of next week that will bring the return of dry and warm temperatures as the ridge builds the first part of next week temperatures will warm to around 10 to 12 degrees above seasonal normals by Tuesday.