CALIFORNIA, USA — Almost on cue, the official start to the winter season will be greeted by a winter storm. Winter Solstice begins at 7:58 a.m. PST and rain will already be hitting the northern California coast. The timing for rain in Sacramento will be shortly after 8:00 a.m.
A low pressure system will tap into another atmospheric river delivering rain to the valley and foothills Tuesday morning. Rain will turn to snow for the Sierra around 4,500 feet.
As much as 1 to 3 inches of rain will be possible for the valley and foothills from Tuesday to Friday.
Sierra snowfall may see as much as 2 to 4 feet with a colder storm scenario, otherwise 1 to 3 feet of snow is likely.
Winds will approach the valley by Monday night as the front arrives. Winds will be around 10 to 15 mph with gusts around 20 mph. The wind event won’t last long as heavy rain arrives and the temperature gradient become neutralized by warmer air.
Rain, becomes scattered showers by Thursday into Friday, with spotty showers for Christmas weekend.
Temperatures will remain chilly overnight through Monday before the warmer storm arrives increasing overnight lows into the mid to upper 40s Tuesday and Wednesday. Daytime highs will reach the mid 50s by Wednesday.
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