Bad weather in Redding brings rain and gusts of wind on Christmas

A winter thunderstorm will hit Shasta County and surrounding areas with strong winds and heavy rains, making driving dangerous, according to the National Weather Service.

Holiday drivers traveling on Interstate 5 this Christmas should be aware of slippery roads around Redding and many parts of the North State. Motorists on I-5 north of the city will experience very strong winds around Weed, resulting in high wind warnings in Siskiyou County.

The weather service recommends drivers travel to and from Redding and the south of the city on Monday before storms intensify and winds become stronger.

Here’s a look at when storms will hit, which areas will be hardest hit, how much rain Redding will get and what Christmas road conditions will look like.

What you should know about the weather on Christmas Eve

The first thunderstorm will come on Tuesday around 7 a.m. It’s a warm storm, so afternoon temperatures in Redding will reach the 50s, according to the weather service and AccuWeather forecasts.

Skies will clear early in the morning, temperatures in Redding will drop to as low as 36 degrees and fog will appear in the area. Protect sensitive outdoor plants and bring pets indoors, the weather service advises.

Note to readers: If you value the work we do here at Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know.

According to forecasters, the areas hardest hit by the Sacramento Valley storm are to the north, including the Redding area.

Gusty southerly winds will blow at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. These gusts were strong enough to damage plants and knock over lawn furniture and Christmas decorations, the weather service warned.

North of Redding, those wind gusts will become stronger — up to 60 mph — in Weed Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, the weather service reported.

Meteorologists said the storm could dump 10 to 20 centimeters of snow on mountains 5,000 feet and higher.

Please update your browser for the latest radar loop.

How much precipitation is forecast in Redding?

The storm will drop up to 1.5 inches of rain through Tuesday, the forecast said, and up to 3 inches in areas like Sims, more than 40 miles north of Redding. There will be a break from the storm on Christmas Day, Wednesday: some fog in the morning. Rain showers return on Wednesday evening.

Wind could impact leisure travel on Interstate 5

Motorists traveling between Red Bluff and Weed should expect slippery, wet roads this week. The strongest gusty winds in Siskiyou County on Monday will be near Weed. Winds and heavy rain will begin in Shasta County on Tuesday, the weather service said.

For Interstate 5 motorists, the worst winds could make driving around Weed in Siskiyou County difficult. The weather service’s Medford, Oregon, branch issued a high wind warning that was in effect through Tuesday morning.

Strong wind gusts coupled with snow mean there could be power outages on high mountain highways.

The California Department of Transportation recommends drivers check weather conditions before hitting the road at the Caltrans District 2 website: dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-2

Another thunderstorm hits Redding later this week

Another thunderstorm will bring 1.5 to 2 inches of rain to Redding on Thursday and Friday, but it won’t reduce the snow total any further, forecasters said.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Bad weather in Redding brings rain and gusts of wind on Christmas

Leave a Reply Cancel reply