Sacramento could get more rain as Valley faces fire weather watch. Here’s the latest
Rain is returning to the Sacramento area, the National Weather Service said, but it’s not sticking around for long.
The agency’s latest forecast calls for mild temperatures and light showers.
“We do have a weather system moving through in the middle of the week bringing some showers,” weather service meteorologist Katrina Hand said on Monday. “We’re really not expecting too much in the Sacramento area.”
Once the sprinkles stop, the risk for wildfires will increase, Hand said.
“The path (the system) taking is bringing some gusty winds that will really dry things out quickly after those showers,” Hand said.
The weather service on Monday issued a fire weather watch for the Sacramento Valley and Delta, warning of gusty winds and low humidity.
Fire weather watch issued for Sacramento Valley
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch that’s in effect from the morning of Thursday, Oct. 17, through the evening of Saturday, Oct 19.
The strongest winds are expected Friday, the agency said.
In the Valley, residents can expect winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph, the weather service said.
Winds of 20 to 30 mph are forecast in the Delta, with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph.
Meanwhile, the region will see relative humidity of 10% to 25% during the daytime, increasing to 25% to 45% overnight.
“The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause new fire starts and ongoing wildfires to rapidly grow in size and intensity,” the weather service said. “Outdoor burning is not recommended.”
What’s the latest weather forecast for Sacramento?
Tuesday will dawn clear with a high near 81 degrees, the weather service said in its latest seven-day forecast.
Clouds increase at night when the low will drop to around 60.
When will the rain start?
There’s a 40% chance of showers on Wednesday, the weather service said, mainly before 11 a.m.
Rainfall amounts will range from a few hundreds of an inch in the Sacramento Valley to a tenth to a quarter of an inch of precipitation in the mountains, Hand said.
In general, Wednesday will be partly sunny, with a high near 75 and an overnight low around 53.
Thursday will be sunny, with a high near 72 and a low around 54.
More sunshine is expected on Friday, which will have a high near 75 and a low around 53.
Heading into the weekend, Saturday and Sunday will be sunny, with highs near 79. The low on Saturday will be around 50.
Hand said there’s a chance for “some very light mountain rain” on Sunday night into Monday, but “nothing in the Sacramento area.”
What’s next for the Sacramento area?
According to Hand, the Sacramento area will continue to see dry, mild weather into next week.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center says there’s an above-normal chance of above-normal temperatures in Northern California from Oct. 21 to Oct. 27.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 11:35 AM.
