First-of-the-season storm rolls into Sacramento area. Here’s what to expect
A cold, early-season storm will move through Northern California this afternoon, bringing as much as an inch or rain or more to the Sacramento Valley and snow to the Sierra Nevada through early Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain is expected to develop in the Valley and foothills late Monday morning, with the heaviest showers arriving Monday afternoon and continuing through early Tuesday. The wet weather system bringing widespread precipitation to the Sacramento region is expected to drop as much as one-and-a-quarter inches of rain on the Sacramento area specifically through early Wednesday, said Idris Shoemaker, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
While the Monday morning commute was largely dry, forecasters warned of more hazardous conditions during the evening rush hour.
“Areas of moderate rain will lead to roadway ponding, slick roads and minor nuisance flooding in poor drainage areas,” the weather service’s Sacramento office said in a briefing Monday morning.
The cold storm was already spreading into the region Monday morning as it made its way from western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Rain will turn to snow in the Sierra Nevada, heavy in areas south of Interstate 80 and Highway 50, and at elevations above 6,500 feet, Shoemaker said.
A winter storm warning for the Sierra is in effect until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Accumulations of 6 inches up to 12 inches are expected along the Interstate 80 and Highway 50 corridors. Up to 20 inches of snowfall is forecast for areas south of I-80; while as much as 3 feet of snow is expected for areas south of Highway 50.
hain controls, travel delays and low visibility are expected in the mountains.
Farther south, the storm is forecast to reach Los Angeles and surrounding counties Monday evening, bringing the potential for locally heavy rain, damaging winds, and isolated thunderstorms through Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Oxnard issued a flood watch for areas in and around recent burn scars, warning of possible debris flows and mudslides.
“California has pre-positioned resources — including dozers, hand crews, rescue swimmers, and helicopters — in Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties to respond to potential debris flows and mudslides,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday in a statement posted to social media.
La Niña is back
The storm system arrives just days after federal scientists confirmed the return of La Niña, a climate pattern driven by cooler-than-average ocean temperatures in the Pacific off the coast of South America. While La Niña is often linked to dry California winters, its effects differ significantly across the state.
In the Central Valley, La Niña winters have historically brought near-average precipitation, according to meteorologist Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services. Since 1950, the Sacramento Valley has averaged 97% of normal rainfall, while the northern San Joaquin Valley has seen 96%, and the southern San Joaquin Valley 92%.
By contrast, Southern California has averaged just 80% of normal rainfall during La Niña years — a sharper drop that raises concerns about drought, wildfire risk, and water supplies. The Bay Area averages 93% of normal.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all pattern, Null told the Bay Area News Group: “You have to look at the data. Get past the hype. There’s no guarantee of a dry winter or a wet winter, only that there will be winter.”
State officials noted that major reservoirs remain in good shape heading into winter, thanks to three consecutive wet years — as of Monday morning, Lakes Oroville and Shasta were over 100% of their historical averages (56% of total capacity for Shasta and 58% for Oroville) while Folsom Lake was running at 94% of its historic average.
But they warned that rainfall has not been evenly distributed. Over the past year, most storms tracked north of Interstate 80, missing much of Southern California entirely.
Conditions are expected to improve midweek, with drier and more seasonal weather returning by Wednesday afternoon.
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM.
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