Here’s what to expect for Sacramento weather, travel and COVID headed into Christmas week

Extreme weather has been blowing through the country, from rainstorms battering California and a blizzard at the border of Oregon, to a tornado ripping through Kentucky and wildfires in Kansas.

Travel conditions may not be at their best right now, but if you need to hit the road or hop on a plane for the holidays, here’s what you can expect:

Weather

The storm has settled in Northern California. But there will still be lingering showers and patchy fog through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

In Sacramento, there will be some frost in the morning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and Friday and Saturday night.

Residents can catch a glimpse of sunlight Friday and Saturday before the chance of rain comes in Sunday through Wednesday.

The rain will be light to moderate, said Katrina Hand, a meteorologist with the NWS in Sacramento. Because it is a multi-day wet weather pattern, there isn’t an estimate yet on how many inches of precipitation the area will get.

During the day, highs are expected to be around 46 to 52 degrees Friday to Wednesday. At night, lows are projected to be 33 to 46 degrees.

If you’re traveling to the south-central region in California toward Hanford, be aware of the recent winter storm watch and a winter weather advisory in Mammoth Lakes. Also, expect some winds near the Ventura and Los Angeles County Mountains on Saturday, blowing about 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

Those going to Nevada, up north to Montana and Michigan, be prepared for winter weather and storm warnings.

Travel

With most holiday plans canceled last year due to the pandemic, many Americans are getting ready to get back on the road this year, according to a report from the American Automobile Association.

More than 109 million people will be commuting at least 50 miles out of town between Dec. 23 through Jan. 2, AAA said. This is almost a 34% increase in travelers compared to 2020.

“Next week’s a really big travel week for the holidays,” Hand, with NWS, said.

And with the weather, there might be some delays to your holiday plans.

“We are expecting possible chain controls and travel delays at least for the mountains,” said Hand. “For the lower elevations, for the rain, the slick roads can also cause travel delays.”

You can find out if your route needs chain controls or if there are lane closures and other hazardous road conditions by checking the Caltrans Quick Map.

“If you’re hitting the roads at any point next week, just give yourself extra time to reach your destination,” she said.

In regards to flight hold-ups, Hand said people should keep checking updates from their airlines and have a backup plan if things don’t go as expected.

And per usual, stay up to date with the latest forecasts before leaving.

COVID-19

Across the country, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are climbing. Reported cases as of Dec. 10 had increased 37% and hospitalizations had risen 15.9%, compared to the last seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The omicron and delta variants are also not taking a winter break, as they are being detected around the world.

Depending on where you’re traveling to, certain states and counties will have stricter COVID safety guidelines.

California recently mandated a statewide mask requirement, citing the post-Thanksgiving surge in cases, but some counties will have separate rules and exemptions.

If you’re in the Orange County area, for instance, unvaccinated people must wear masks in indoor public spaces. In Los Angeles County, however, all people, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face coverings in indoor public spaces.

The state also recommends you get tested three to five days before or after leaving the state.

Certain airports may also have their own COVID restrictions and all require face masks.

Be sure to check the health and safety rules at your end destination and airports to make sure you’re equipped with the right COVID prevention measures.

To reduce the spread of the virus, the CDC listed some tips you can take, such as getting your COVID and flu vaccines and wearing a mask.

This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 2:05 PM.