textproduct: Sacramento

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold storm brings continued dangerous travel impacts to the mountains and foothills with heavy snow and gusty winds today

- Mostly dry and colder temperatures Friday and Saturday with a few lingering showers over the northern mountains - Warmer storm brings additional rounds of breezy southerly winds, precipitation and mountain snow Sunday through mid next week with higher snow levels

..Sunday into Next Week

Ensemble guidance indicates a warmer system arriving later this weekend that may bring additional rounds of rain and mountain snow into next week, along with periodically breezy southerly winds. The snow levels with this storm will be much higher than the current one, with the latest guidance showing snow levels initially around 4000-5000 feet on Sunday, rising to 6000-7000+ feet Sunday night through Tuesday, and then lowering down to 5000- 6000 feet Wednesday. Slick roads and travel delays will be possible with this next storm. Be sure to check back for updates as we get closer!

AVIATION

VFR conditions this afternoon, with a slight chance for MVFR conditions due to mist or fog in the Sacramento area overnight. MVFR/IFR conditions continue in the mountains through around 12z Friday due to lingering snowfall. Southerly Valley wind gusts up to 20 kts and mountain gusts up to 40 kts through 06z Friday, then winds generally below 12 kts for the remainder of the forecast period.

STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Friday for Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley-Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley.

Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST this evening for Motherlode- Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park.

Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Friday for the Sacramento Valley, foothills and mountains.