Winds kick up across Northern California, flash flood warnings for Shasta County
Light showers seem to have missed Sacramento on Thursday, but rain is more likely in the capital region Friday as the latest in a series of Pacific storm systems hits its peak.
The National Weather Service has also issued a flash flood watch through 11 p.m. for northern parts of the Sacramento Valley, including Shasta County with particular concern for the Carr Fire’s burn scar area near Redding.
Isolated, slow-moving thunderstorms remain possible across Northern California but are most likely in the Shasta area, NWS warns.
Rainfall “of up to 1 inch per hour” is possible in Shasta County during those thunderstorms, according to the flash flood watch.
Hold onto your umbrella
A wind advisory is in place through 8 p.m. Friday for northern parts of the valley including Chico, where gusts could hit 45 mph, as well as Lake Tahoe.
Tahoe and Sacramento could each see breezy winds reach 25 mph.
Bad day for mountain travel
Snow will continue to fall at elevations above 6,000 feet through Saturday, with the heaviest snow beginning late Friday morning throughout the mountains.
Most of the Sierra will see 4 to 8 inches through Saturday morning, while higher peaks could see more than 16 inches.
The April storm was expected to drop 1 to 2 feet of snow total throughout most of the Sierra.
Caltrans warns Friday will be the worst day for mountain travel, with conditions improving after Saturday morning. Reduced visibility and chain controls near the summit are both likely.
No downpour so far in Sacramento
Despite light showers in the forecast, no measurable precipitation fell in or near Sacramento from 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, according to Sacramento County’s rainfall monitors.
About a quarter-inch of rain is expected for the capital region through the end of the day, but a lingering possibility of afternoon thunderstorms could bump that total higher or bring hail.
Showers should be even lighter Saturday before clearing out Sunday as temperatures warm back up to the mid 70s by the start of next week, forecasts show.
Another weather system is on the way, though, and is currently expected to bring more light showers starting Monday or Tuesday.
This story was originally published April 5, 2019 at 7:32 AM.
