textproduct: Sacramento

KEY MESSAGES

- Brunt of cold storm system impacts the area through today with additional rounds of lighter rain and snow on Wednesday into Thursday.

- Major travel impacts in the mountains and foothills continue with light snowfall accumulations possible below 1000 feet in Shasta County on Wednesday morning. - Outside of lingering light mountain showers, brief break in the action expected later Thursday into Saturday. Another wet, but slightly warmer storm system expected for early next week.

..Friday - Weekend

Ensemble guidance in agreement that longwave trough ejects off to the east by Friday with a brief break in the action for most of the area through Saturday. Should see improving travel conditions throughout the day Friday. By Sunday, ensemble guidance shows another strong trough dropping south near the West Coast from the Gulf of Alaska and eventually swinging through the area sometime Tuesday into Wednesday. Exact details remain uncertain but a pretty good likelihood of widespread rainfall and mountain snow with another period of gusty southerly winds. This one looks a bit warmer so generally snow levels around 5000 feet or above.

AVIATION

MVFR/IFR conditions expected in areas of -RA/RA and possible TSRA at TAF sites through 04z Wednesday followed by a brief break in precipitation and a return to generally VFR conditions overnight. Highest chances for TSRA expected between 23z today and 04z Wednesday. Additional MVFR in isolated -SHRA then possible through 18z Wednesday. Gusty south to west winds expected through 00z Wednesday, gradually decreasing in the evening and overnight hours.

IFR/LIFR conditions in SN/+SN expected across the mountains today followed by primarily scattered -SNSH/SNSH after 06z Wednesday. Snow levels remain around 2500-3500 feet through the forecast period, dropping as low as 1000 feet along the Sierra and below 1000 feet across southern Cascades and Shasta County mountains by Wednesday morning. West-southwest winds remain gusty through 00z Wednesday with surface wind gusts up to 65 kts at times, then gradually decreasing overnight.

STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Thursday for Burney Basin / Eastern Shasta County-Motherlode-Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County-Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley-Shasta Lake Area / Northern Shasta County-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park.

Wind Advisory until 10 PM PST Thursday for Central Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley.