303
FXUS66 KSTO 222029
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
1229 PM PST Wed Jan 22 2025


.SYNOPSIS...
Dry and cold weather, foggy and frosty mornings over the next few
days. Gusty winds, along with potential for light mountain
precipitation return over the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Dry weather will continue through Friday as ridging remains over
Northern California with Valley highs in the 60s, and cooler
temperatures in the mountains. Warmer high temperatures will are
likely across the northern and central Sacramento Valley today
through Friday, with a 50 to 70% chance of high temperatures over
70 degrees.

Valley low temperatures are forecast to be in the 30s through the
week, with a 20 to 30% chance of below freezing temperatures
tomorrow morning in more rural areas of the Valley. Morning lows
will gradually warm to the mid 30s to low 40s heading into the
weekend. Patchy Valley fog and frost are forecast to accompany
these chilly temperatures as well. Be sure to protect plants,
people, and pets from the cold weather.

A few light sprinkles will be possible over the Valley on Friday
ahead of the main inside slider that`s expected to move through
overnight Friday and into Saturday. This will bring about a
return to gusty winds through Sunday with chances for light
precipitation at higher elevations. Rain and snow are generally
expected to be minimal, with amounts mainly above 3000 feet. Most
(very light) accumulations will be limited to the Motherlode
area, with expected totals generally below 0.25 inches. Snow will
also be very light and limited to higher elevations for the most
part, with less than 2 inches expected in most areas from HWY 50
and northward. Precipitation amounts continue to trend down, but
due to the dynamic nature of this synoptic set up, a stray light
shower or sprinkles cannot be ruled out over the Valley.

Gusty north to east winds will be the main story this weekend,
with the strongest winds expected on Saturday. The National Blend
of Models (NBM) shows a 65 to 90% chance of gusts at 40 mph or
higher in the western portion of the Valley, and 50 to 75% chance
of gusts at 50 mph or higher over the Sierra. Confidence is
increasing that peak winds will arrive late Saturday morning with
a secondary surge over the mountains in the evening.

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Sunday THROUGH Wednesday)...
The aforementioned inside slider will continue to bring gusty
north to east winds over the mountains Sunday and into early
Monday, accompanied by breezy north winds in the Valley. Currently
the National Blend of Models indicates a 60 to 80% chance of
gusts greater than 45 mph over the Sierra. Valley winds on Sunday
are on track to be weaker compared to those on Saturday. North
winds in the Valley will be focused along the western half of the
Sacramento Valley and the Delta with a 60 to 80% chance for gusts
greater than 30 mph. Make sure to secure any loose outdoor
furniture/decorations and be cautious while driving near or around
high profile vehicles.

Dry weather and cold morning temperatures return early next week
as riding builds back over Northern California. Morning low
temperatures will drop back into the 30s, with more widespread
chances at near or below freezing in the Valley and frost.


&&

.AVIATION...
VFR conditions prevail across interior NorCal, except local
MVFR/IFR visibility from BR in the southern Sacramento/northern
San Joaquin valleys from 09Z-18Z Thursday. In the Valley, surface
winds generally at or below 12 kts, except local northerly surface
winds to 15 kts in the northern Sacramento Valley through 00Z
Thursday. In the foothills/mountains, north to east surface winds
15 to 25 kts through 20Z Thursday.


&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$