Weak system tonight-Friday, dry conditions this weekend and beyond

Dry conditions prevail today. Another weather system moves in tonight and Friday bringing renewed light rain and mountain snow chances. Dry weather returns for the weekend into early next week.

Discussion

Satellite imagery shows that skies have mostly cleared out except for the extensive fog and low clouds across much of the lower elevations, a result of a stronger low-level inversion over the area. The most extensive area of dense fog remains over the Sacramento area and extends north up to just south of Chico in the Sacramento Valley. Current temperatures reflect the inversion with valley temperatures running around 5 degrees cooler compared to 24 hours ago, in the mid to upper 40s, while KBLU at 5k ft in the Sierra is 10 degrees warmer than early Wednesday.

Dry conditions will continue today as the ridge moves overhead. Fog and low clouds will be slow to clear from the Central Valley with poor mixing, and these areas may not see much sun this afternoon.

Quick-moving system moves into the area tonight and will spread precipitation chances southward through most of the forecast area by midday Friday. Precipitation amounts continue to trend lower with the valley expected to see less than a quarter inch, and most mountain areas less than an inch. Snowfall accumulation of around 2-4 inches will be possible along the Sierra/Cascade crest.

Breezy conditions will return with the system, especially for the mountains and northern half of the Sacramento Valley, but are expected to be much less impactful than this past Monday’s system.

Dry weather then returns for the weekend with late night and morning fog and frost chances returning to the valley as overnight lows return to the 30s.

Extended Discussion (Monday through Thursday)

Ensemble guidance supports upper level ridging building across the region during the extended period, resulting in dry conditions. The ridging pattern would be favorable for areas of night and morning Valley fog.

Forecast highs will remain near or slightly above normal with Valley temperatures in the mid to upper 50s. A few weak disturbances may bring very low shower chances for interior NorCal on Monday and around mid-week, but little to no precipitation is expected.