After topping records Thursday, area temperatures to head downward

After tying or breaking temperature records for the date Thursday in the Sacramento Valley, the area will see a cooling trend beginning Friday.

Sacramento Executive Airport reported a high of 81 degrees, topping the previous record of 80 degrees posted in 2004, said Karl Swanberg, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. Downtown Sacramento tied the record of 83 degrees for the date.

In the northern part of the Valley, the Redding Airport reported a hight of 84 degrees, beating the old record of 81 degrees in 2010. Other locations reporting highs in the 80s included Red Bluff, 84; Marysville, 82; Modesto and Stockton, 81; and Vallejo, 83 degrees, Swanberg said.

Friday’s highs are expected to drop into the 70s, with partly cloudy skies. The downward trend likely will continue, with highs in the low to mid-70s on Saturday, and upper 60s to low 70s on Sunday.

Areas around Redding could see some rain on Sunday, while the best chance of rain in the Sacramento region will be Monday and Tuesday, Swanberg said. Valley areas could see up to a quarter of an inch, with up to an inch in the Sierra and Mother Lode. Swanberg said areas above the 5,000-foot elevation could receive snow. A high of 42 degrees is forecast for the Blue Canyon area on Monday and 49 degrees on Tuesday, with overnight lows in the low to mid 30s.

The detailed, seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service for the Sacramento region:

Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph after midnight

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South-southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind 6 to 8 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind around 6 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Sunday night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Monday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.

Monday night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with low around 49.

Thursday: Sunny, with high near 76

This story was originally published March 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM with the headline "After topping records Thursday, area temperatures to head downward."