A major storm is forecast for Northern California beginning tonight and continuing through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow levels could lower to 600 feet in Shasta County tonight. For Interstate 5 travelers that could mean snowfall on the north-south freeway, making travel difficult.
Along Interstate 80 and Highway 50, the NWS predicts two-to-four feet of snow over the next few days, with more likely to accumulate at ski resorts.
Rain is likely in Sacramento, but not until after 10 p.m. tonight. On Friday, the first day of winter, it is expected to be rainy and windy in Sacramento.
About an inch of rain is forecast for Friday. Rain continues on Saturday and Sunday but then skies begin to clear.
Christmas looks mostly sunny.
See the 10 biggest storms in Sacramento in past 100 years.
The detailed, 7-day forecast from the NWS:
Today: A 30 percent chance of rain after 5pm. Patchy frost before 11am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a high near 54. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 16 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday: Rain. High near 52. South southeast wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday night: Rain. Low around 45. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday: Rain. High near 51. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 23 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday night: Rain. Low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Rain. High near 51. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Monday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Wednesday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.
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