Sunday will likely be a great day for sitting by the fireplace and watching the frightful weather outside.
It will be wet and windy in the Sacramento Valley, with forecasters predicting up to an inch of rain during the day and another quarter of an inch at night.
The National Weather Service predicts steady winds between 22 mph and 26 mph in the valley, with gusts up to 40 mph. There's also a chance of thunderstorms.
The Sierra will continue to see lots of snow. Forecasters predict anywhere from 7 to 11 inches will fall in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday during the day, with another 2 to 4 inches falling at night.
The weather service has issued a wind advisory for the valley and a winter storm warning for the Sierra. Forecasters advise against heading up the mountain for the rest of today and into Sunday unless it is necessary.
"Periods of heavy snow and strong winds could lead to whiteout conditions and very lengthy travel delays," according to the warning, issued late this afternoon.
The nasty weather is due to a strong low pressure system hanging over the Pacific Northwest. Winds moving around the base of that system will pick up moisture - and drop it as snow on the mountains.
Rain and snow will remain a possibility through Wednesday, though storms will taper off significantly after Tuesday.
Sierra ski resorts above Sacramento are putting their snow-making equipment away as low temperatures and heavy precipitation sweep through Northern California. At least six to eight feet of powder will be added to the resorts' base and snow was dropping as low as 4,000 feet Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
On eastbound I-80, trucks are being stopped at Applegate, while chains are required for all vehicles from Colfax to the Nevada state line except those with 4-wheel drive and snow tires on all four wheels. On eastbound U. S. 50, chains are required for all vehicles from nine miles east of Placerville to Meyers.
Christmas will likely bring snow showers to the mountains, dropping a pleasant half an inch of snow in South Lake Tahoe. The Sacramento Valley will see a 30 percent chance of rain, mostly after 10 a.m.
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