Heavy Sierra snow, valley thunderstorms and hail possible Wednesday as storm peaks
The heaviest rain, heaviest snow and highest probability of thunderstorms accompanying the current storm will pass through Northern California at varying times Wednesday.
Early morning showers were scattered, dropping heavier precipitation in the northern half of the Sacramento Valley while Sacramento stayed mostly dry as of 6 a.m., as National Weather Service radar images show.
Rain in Sacramento will likely begin later Wednesday morning.
NWS warns thunderstorms are possible throughout virtually all of interior Northern California, most likely sometime between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thunderstorms are also possible in Sacramento after 11 a.m. Thursday. Thunderstorms means heavier rain, gusty winds and the possibility of hail.
Chains required in the mountains
Parts of the Sierra could see 1 to 3 feet of snow by Thursday morning, a bulk of it falling Wednesday.
A winter storm warning is in place through 5 a.m. Thursday, with NWS and Caltrans highly discouraging travel through the mountains Wednesday.
As of 6:30 a.m., chain controls were in place on Interstate 80 and Highway 50 near the summit, according to Caltrans.
Snow levels started at about 6,000 feet in the morning and are expected to fall to about 4,000 feet by Wednesday night.
How rainy? How windy?
About a half-inch of rain is expected in Sacramento on Wednesday, but thunderstorms would likely push that total higher.
Rainfall so far has been light and scattered in the Sacramento area. In the 24 hours starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday, most of Sacramento has seen less than a tenth of an inch, with places east of the capital like Rancho Cordova and Folsom receiving no measurable precipitation, according to county rain gauges.
High temperatures will linger in the low 60s Wednesday and Thursday despite the storm. Wind gusts will peak at about 25 mph Wednesday.
When’s the next 70-degree day?
For Sacramento, it won’t be long until warmer weather returns.
The latest forecasts show sunny skies starting Friday, with high temperatures in the low 70s expected Saturday and Sunday.
