Today will likely be a great day for sitting by the fireplace and watching the frightful weather outside.
The forecast is for rain and wind in the Sacramento Valley, with predictions of up to an inch of rain during the day and another quarter of an inch at night.
The National Weather Service predicts steady winds from 22 to 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 today 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 to the mountain this weekend 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 Saturday.
The nasty weather is due to a strong low pressure system hanging over the Pacific Northwest.
In the mountains on Saturday, major highways were backed up or closed for long periods as heavy snow limited visibility. By early evening, getting from Sacramento to Tahoe was, at best, a five-hour ordeal, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Rain and snow will remain a possibility through Wednesday, though storms will taper off significantly after Tuesday.
Christmas will likely bring snow showers to the mountains, with half an inch in South Lake Tahoe. The Sacramento Valley will see a 30 percent chance of rain, mostly after 10 a.m.
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