SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The historic October heat wave is coming to an end this week with a cooling trend beginning Tuesday and temperatures in the 80s as soon as Wednesday. But it doesn't stop there.
The high pressure system that has been parked over the Desert Southwest for much of the last week is finally shifting east into the Southern Plains. This will allow temps across Northern California to finally begin coming down from the triple digits, where they've been for the month of October so far.
By the end of the workweek, a low pressure system will drop into the Pacific Northwest. This will bring us another taste of fall with valley temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s Friday and Saturday. It may also bring a chance of showers to parts of Northern California.
There's not a ton of moisture associated with the storm, so rain chances are pretty slim for the Capital Region, especially south of Interstate 80. There are some better rain chances in the upper Sacramento Valley, but totals would likely be less than a tenth of an inch.
The best rain chances are in the Coastal Range and on the North Coast. Some areas along the coast may see rainfall totals closer to half an inch.
The timing of the rain is still a bit different between models, but the most likely timeframe is shaping up to be Friday night and Saturday morning. Because of the timing and the limited valley rainfall, overall impacts will be minimal, but if you do have plans early Saturday morning, don't be surprised if you get some raindrops.
Breaking it down, here's where the confidence is moderate to high. Temperatures will cool, we'll see more clouds and there is a chance for rain. Where confidence drops is in the details, location and totals.
The average first rainfall of the water year for Downtown Sacramento that measures above 0.10" is October 7. Instead of seeing that rain, the region saw record heat. Suffice it to say, the wet season is off to a slow start. The biggest months for rainfall are still a ways off with the wettest months being December, January and February.
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