NorCal Forecast: Showers Friday, stormy Saturday

The weekend starts with heavy rain and snow as well as strong winds.

Updated: 4:47 p.m. PST, December 12, 2024

COVER THE ROCKS. The U.S. Forest Service plows the parking lot. Meteorologist Heather Waldman is tracking this system What’s next for us, Heather? Yes, it really is a beautiful landscape. And, boy, the resorts around TAHOE. I love the forecast. NOT ONLY TODAY, NOT ONLY TOMORROW, BUT DESTINY FOR SATURDAY. There’s a good supply of fresh powder there for those who try to ride around in it. Yes, it’s a different story. So we have our first of two systems that we are observing here. IT’S MOVING OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. That’s accumulating and it’s going to be here on Saturday with a little heavier rain than we’ve already seen, a little heavier snow and some wind too. We’ll dive into these details in the next few minutes. THIS IS WHAT OUR CAMERA LOOKS OVER DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. You look south. The situation is dry for now. There will be a few more sprinkles over the next few hours. AND TEMPERATURES. Relatively speaking, it will remain mild overnight. WE JUST GOT INTO THE MID 50 DEGREES TODAY, BUT WE WILL STAY AT 50 DEGREES FOR THE BEST OF TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. Here’s a look at what is Castle Peak along Interstate 80. Yes. CHAIN ​​CONTROLS UP HERE. NO QUESTION. VISIBILITY REDUCED. WE NOT ONLY HAVE SOME OF THE LIGHT SNOW, BUT WE HAVE BACK THE WIND. IT WILL ALWAYS BE 29 DEGREES AT THE TRUCKEE AIRPORT AND TEMPERATURES WILL HAVE IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING, WITH THE SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUING, THERE WILL BE A BREAK BEFORE SUNRISE ON FRIDAY , BUT PLAN CHAIN ​​CHECKS ON Friday it will snow again throughout the day, so it will be damp again on the way to work in the morning. For those leaving the house at 6 or 7 a.m., it won’t rain quite as heavily as we saw this morning. BUT THE ROADS ALONG I-80 AND AREAS NORTH ARE WET. FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WE DRY IN THE VALLEY. THERE WILL BE A LITTLE SOUTH BREEZE. HERE’S OUR CHANCE FOR SOME CHAIN ​​CHECKS IN THE SIERRA. THERE COULD BE A QUICK 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW AT DONNER SUMMER TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. PLANS AT LEAST ALONG THE VALLEY. At the moment it looks dry. THE GROUND WILL CERTAINLY BE WET, BUT NOTHING WILL FALL FROM THE SKY AT THIS POINT. That will change very late Friday evening and early Saturday morning as a few rounds of heavy rain and some snow move through the Sierra. So right now, one lap before sunrise, but another lap here around the middle of the morning. This is Saturday, 9 a.m. This will be a string of pretty good rains coming up. IT WILL NOT TAKE LONG BUT IT WILL NEED GOOD RAIN PROTECTION. There could be a quarter inch of rain relatively quickly. Things will calm down a bit in the afternoon, but in the second half of the day we could see a shower, maybe even a thunderstorm. AND OF COURSE, WATCHING THE SNOW OVER 5000 FEET DURING THE DAY. ON SATURDAY THUNDER SUMMIT COULD RECOVER ANOTHER 12 TO 18 INCHES ONLY ON SATURDAY. We also have to talk about the wind. Saturday’s system will have a little more energy. SUN 7:00 SATURDAY MORNING. Widespread wind gusts between 35 and 45 mph lasting through the middle of the day. The wind will die down in the afternoon. BUT USE TOMORROW IF YOU CAN, ESPECIALLY THE AFTERNOON WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THE DRY BREAKS TO MAKE SURE THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE SAFE. If you have a few of these cute little inflatables in the yard, Saturday is a good day to bring them in. SEVEN DAY FORECAST SHOWS. YES, STORMY DAY ON SATURDAY, BUT A MUCH BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE ON SUNDAY.

NorCal Forecast: Showers Friday, stormy Saturday

The weekend starts with heavy rain and snow as well as strong winds.

Updated: 4:47 p.m. PST, December 12, 2024

Meteorologist/climate reporter

Scattered showers will continue in the valley and foothills Thursday evening. There will be light rain again during the morning commute on Friday. The afternoon will be mostly dry with a southerly breeze and temperatures around 50°C. Motorists in the Sierra should prepare for delays and chain checks Thursday evening and Friday. Donner Summit will see another 6 to 12 inches of snow through Friday evening. Saturday will be a stormy day with alternating heavy rain, snow and widespread strong winds. The heaviest rain will move through the valley during the morning. Wind gusts will also be blowing at this time with speeds between 35 and 45 miles per hour. These winds could move loose Christmas decorations and other small items left outside. Isolated power outages are also possible. Travel to the Sierra is not recommended on Saturday. There will be heavier snow in the morning and some heavy snow during the evening. Strong winds will also significantly reduce visibility in open terrain. Sunday will be dry with lighter winds across Northern California.

Scattered showers will continue in the valley and foothills Thursday evening.

There will be light rain again during the morning commute on Friday. The afternoon will be mostly dry, with a southerly breeze and temperatures around 50°C.

Drivers in the Sierra should prepare for delays and chain checks Thursday evening and Friday. Donner Summit will see another 6 to 12 inches of snow through Friday evening.

Saturday will be a stormy day with a range of heavy rain, snow and widespread strong winds.

The heaviest rain will move through the valley during the morning. Wind gusts will also be blowing at this time with speeds between 35 and 45 miles per hour. These winds could move loose Christmas decorations and other small items left outside. Isolated power outages are also possible.

Travel to the Sierra is not recommended on Saturday. There will be heavier snow in the morning and some heavy snow during the evening. Strong winds also significantly impair visibility in open areas.

Sunday will be dry with lighter winds across Northern California.