Rain, near-freezing temps will return to Sacramento — with possible snow in the foothills
Time to get your umbrella back out — rain is in Sacramento’s forecast this week.
Showers are predicted to start Wednesday and continue through the week, bringing near-freezing temperatures to the region.
“From (Tuesday) to (Wednesday) there will be about a 10 degree temperature drop during the day, then another five to 10 degrees on Thursday,” said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a National Weather Service meteorologist. “...high temperatures will be in the 40s for Thursday and Friday with low temperatures right around freezing.”
Here’s what you can expect through the week:
Sacramento rain
Gusty winds in the region start Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, Chandler-Cooley said. A wind advisory has been issued and will be in affect into Wednesday night, as winds of up to 30 to 35 miles per hour are forecast.
Come Wednesday, there is a 30% chance of rain expected in the afternoon hours, however it’s more likely rain will start Thursday.
Rain will start by late morning on Thursday, Chandler-Cooley said. With predictions of “heavier rain Thursday night into early Friday morning.”
Temperatures will dip to 33 degrees on Wednesday and Friday, according to the weather service forecast. Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week at 64 degrees. The seven-day forecast shows Saturday sunny, but showers could return Sunday.
Snow in foothills and mountains
Starting Wednesday and into Friday, snow levels are forecast to drop as low as 1,000 feet elevation, Chandler-Cooley said, which is expected to cause significant travel disruptions.
“With those snow levels so low it could be dangerous to travel,” Chandler-Cooley said. “The slick roads, significant delays and possibly even road closures over Highway 50 or any of the other highways up there.”
The weather service is forecasting up to 3 feet of snow for mountain areas between 3,000 to 5,000 feet, 1 to 2 feet for areas 1,500 to 3,000 feet and between 2 to 8 inches of snow for areas between 1,000 to 1,500 elevation.
Early Thursday morning and night snow levels can drop in the northern Sacramento Valley at levels as low as 500 feet, according to the weather service.
The heaviest snowfall will be from Wednesday to Friday.
Snow is predicted to fall Tuesday and through the week in the mountains, according to the weather service forecast. Temperatures will dip down to 7 degrees in some areas Tuesday and Wednesday night.
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 11:16 AM.