Snow expected from series of upcoming storms
By Loretta Kalb, Sacramento Bee
A series of storms will bring snow and high winds to the Sierra Nevada and drenching rains and winds to parts of Northern California this week, the National Weather Service said today.
The first wave arriving today in the Sacramento area today isn’t expected to drop much in the way of precipitation, said NWS forecaster Karl Swanberg. Showers will be mainly light and intermittent.
But Swanberg said today’s storm front will clear the way for a heavier system expected to reach the valley area Monday afternoon. That storm is forecast to deliver about 0.75 of an inch of rain in the Sacramento Valley through Monday night and Tuesday, with winds gusting to 25 mph. Valley winds should strengthen on Tuesday, gusting to 40 mph.
In the mountains, snow levels will range from the 5,000 feet to 5,500 feet Monday night and Tuesday, Swanberg said, and winds are forecast at 25 mph to 45 mph. At ridge tops, look for winds gusting to 50 mph Monday afternoon and up to 75 mph late Tuesday.
Another storm system should arrive on Wednesday, dropping another 0.75 of an inch to 1 inch in the Sacramento area. To the north, in Redding, a heavier downpour is forecast of between 2 inches and 3 inches through midweek.