SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It's finally the weekend and that means many of us are looking to get out and enjoy the last weekend of the summer. But before you do, you should know that the weather is changing.
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SATURDAY MORNING
Saturday is a transition day. Temperatures in the morning will climb steadily from the mid to upper 50s into the 60s through the 11 a.m. hour. Sunny skies prevail and winds less than 10 miles per hour. If you're headed out to breakfast, brunch, or even lunch, it'll be a nice Saturday to do so! No weather worries.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
So if you're out early, weather really won't impact your plans at all. But if you're staying out later in the day, you're going to notice wind picking up gradually from the lunchtime hours into the early evening.
An area of low pressure off of British Columbia is dropping south along the coast and increasing winds this afternoon signal its impending arrival.
In the valley, expect winds to increase to between 15 and 20 miles per hour this afternoon, with gusts up to 25 mph. Winds will continue through the evening hours.
In the foothills and Sierra, southwesterly winds will increase to between 25 and 30 miles per hour, with gusts upwards of 35 mph. This means we'll be closely watching the Mosquito Fire for growth to the northeast. But for the majority in the foothills, these winds will flush out the smoke to the northeast, clearing the air for many areas that have been under a blanket of smoke for much of this week. However, areas like Truckee and Reno can still expect largely smoky skies.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY OVERNIGHT
Winds subside with the sunset this evening and showers move into Northern California. Coastal areas and the Bay Area see rain first, as early as 7 P.M. Saturday. Rain will come and go overnight, especially for areas west of Sacramento.
By sunrise Sunday, the best rain chances are west of I-5 from the Bay Area to Vacaville. With that being said, some passing showers in Sacramento and Stockton are possible.
SUNDAY MORNING
After sunrise Sunday, a push of moisture arrives and rainfall becomes more widespread. Still, the best rain chances before noon on Sunday are west of I-5 from the coast to Fairfield and Vacaville, though showers are entirely possible for areas from Sacramento and Stockton to the foothills along I-80.
If you do see rain on Sunday morning, rain is likely to be steady and relatively soaking, especially for areas west of I-5.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Rain progresses eastwards throughout the afternoon on Sunday, becoming widespread across Northern California by 3 p.m. Now everywhere from the Bay Area to the valley to the foothills are looking at rainfall.
We won't necessarily see a constant, all-day rain everywhere. Showers are likely to ebb and flow throughout the afternoon and evening, lighter at times and heavier at others.
The heaviest and steadiest rainfall looks to be for areas near Fairfield and Vacaville and then areas from Sacramento to the north.
Lighter, more off-and-on rainfall is expected for the San Joaquin Valley, including Stockton and Modesto.
It's important to note that heavy rainfall bands are possible, so if an area ends up under a band, upwards of half an inch of rain could fall in the afternoon, while only a few tenths fall elsewhere. This is the case for the entirety of Northern California on Sunday.
SUNDAY-MONDAY OVERNIGHT
Rain is going to continue after sunset on Sunday and through the overnight hours. Areas of the Sierra above 7,500 feet could see some flurries overnight, though any accumulation is unlikely.
Above 8,000 feet some very light snow accumulation is possible. In general, snowfall will not be a big player with this particular storm, but it's important to be aware for our friends in the highest elevations.
It also looks like rainfall will become more steady, making for a very soggy Monday morning commute. Be sure to leave early and take it slow on Monday morning as the roads are likely to be very wet.
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