SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This spring has featured a roller coaster-type weather pattern with drastic swings in temperature. With temperatures expected to rise back into the 90s again next week, this wacky pattern continues.
May has started off cool and wet in California, particularly compared to the end of April when valley temperatures soared into the mid-90s.
So far, Sacramento is actually 7.5 degrees below normal in terms of average temperature this month.
Sacramento has yet to hit 70 degrees this month, which is impressive considering the average high temperature is nearly 80 at this point of the year.
Northern California has received a healthy amount of rain so far this month. Precipitation totals have been hit or miss due to thunderstorms, but most valley locations have received half to over an inch of rain, particularly Sacramento and areas north.
Areas south of Sacramento, including Stockton and Modesto, have been slightly drier with most areas receiving 0.25-0.50”.
More snow has also fallen in the Sierra also above 5,000-6,000 feet. The Central Sierra Snow lab picked up almost 16” in the past week, pushing their season total to over 750”.
Sunday will be mainly dry before precipitation returns to the Northern Sacramento Valley and Sierra later Sunday night and into Monday.
Rain and snow totals from this system will be light and it appears to be the last chance of seeing rain in the valley for a while.
This week will feature daily increases in the high temperature. On Monday, a high of 69 is forecast in Sacramento but this number will increase all the way into the lower 90s by Saturday.
Low pressure had been the dominant weather feature for the first week or so of the month and will help keep temperatures below average for the first half of the work week.
High pressure will begin to take hold by midweek and will gain strength into the weekend when the 90-degree temperatures are expected.
The Climate Prediction Center has California and the rest of the Western U.S. staying above average for at least the next two weeks.
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