Some much-needed rain and snow arrived in Northern California on Thursday. KCRA 3’s weather team is calling Thursday a Weather Impact Day for the travel impacts in the Sierra, where chain controls are in effect for portions of Interstate 80 and Highway 50. The past couple of weeks have been mostly dry, and this weather system could bring several feet of snow to the Sierra and some much-needed moisture to keep vegetation from drying out. (Video above: A livestream of our morning news coverage. Video below: Dec. 1, 5 a.m. forecast and storm coverage.) Here’s what you need to know about the forecast. Gusty conditionsMeteorologist Eileen Javora says the weather system will bring some gusty winds on Thursday. “Some of the gusts out of the south could be around 35 to even 40 miles an hour, especially on the east side of the Valley, eastern Sacramento County down through the lower Foothills,” she said this week. Rain in the Sacramento ValleyThe latest models have rain moving through a bit more quickly, so the morning commute will be windy and wet, with rain continuing until midday with clearing in the afternoon, according to our weather team.Northern California could see about half an inch to an inch of rain in some Valley spots like Sacramento on Thursday. Other spots around Modesto could see a quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain. Late Thursday morning and into the midday hours, the rain is expected to slide south and taper for the Valley, although the snow will hang on — and snow levels might even be lowering during that time.The combination of wind and rain will bring down leaves across the region that could back up storm drains. Video below: Sacramento crews clear leaves from the street in preparation for rainSierra Snow It is forecast to snow much of the day in the Sierra above 5,000 feet, with accumulations of 2 feet possible in higher elevations on Thursday. Ski areas could be in the 3 feet range. Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn says the bulk of the snow will be above 3,000 feet. Chain controls impacting Sierra travel are also expected Thursday and early Friday. Click here for a look at Caltrans’ QuickMap for traffic conditions. Click here to search conditions by highway. The snow level will drop to around 4,000 feet during the day, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches. The chances for small amounts of snow down to 2,500 feet by Thursday night into Friday morning. With more snow in the Sierra on Saturday night into Sunday, there could be travel issues then.Video below: Truckee residents stock up ahead of Sierra stormLooking aheadBy Thursday evening and into Friday, the rain and snow will be gone, but we may have some fog by Friday morning.Northern California will get a break from the rain on Friday before the rain begins to develop again on Saturday and linger into Sunday.But occasional rain and snow over the weekend at this point is still difficult to time out, our weather team says. Warming centers in Sacramento openSacramento County is opening a warning center at DHA 28th Street Annex from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. from Wednesday through at least next week. It’s located at 1725 28th St. in downtown Sacramento. Learn more in the video player below. Track real-time traffic updates here(App users, click here to see our interactive traffic map.)Track our interactive Doppler radar here (App users, click here to see our interactive radar map.)Download our app for the latestHere is where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief Meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Eileen Javora on FacebookMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterWatch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
Some much-needed rain and snow arrived in Northern California on Thursday. KCRA 3’s weather team is calling Thursday a Weather Impact Day for the travel impacts in the Sierra, where chain controls are in effect for portions of Interstate 80 and Highway 50.
The past couple of weeks have been mostly dry, and this weather system could bring several feet of snow to the Sierra and some much-needed moisture to keep vegetation from drying out.
(Video above: A livestream of our morning news coverage. Video below: Dec. 1, 5 a.m. forecast and storm coverage.)
Here’s what you need to know about the forecast.
Gusty conditions
Meteorologist Eileen Javora says the weather system will bring some gusty winds on Thursday.
“Some of the gusts out of the south could be around 35 to even 40 miles an hour, especially on the east side of the Valley, eastern Sacramento County down through the lower Foothills,” she said this week.
Rain in the Sacramento Valley
The latest models have rain moving through a bit more quickly, so the morning commute will be windy and wet, with rain continuing until midday with clearing in the afternoon, according to our weather team.
Northern California could see about half an inch to an inch of rain in some Valley spots like Sacramento on Thursday. Other spots around Modesto could see a quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain.
Late Thursday morning and into the midday hours, the rain is expected to slide south and taper for the Valley, although the snow will hang on — and snow levels might even be lowering during that time.
The combination of wind and rain will bring down leaves across the region that could back up storm drains.
Video below: Sacramento crews clear leaves from the street in preparation for rain
Sierra Snow
It is forecast to snow much of the day in the Sierra above 5,000 feet, with accumulations of 2 feet possible in higher elevations on Thursday. Ski areas could be in the 3 feet range.
Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn says the bulk of the snow will be above 3,000 feet.
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Chain controls impacting Sierra travel are also expected Thursday and early Friday. Click here for a look at Caltrans’ QuickMap for traffic conditions. Click here to search conditions by highway.
The snow level will drop to around 4,000 feet during the day, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches.
The chances for small amounts of snow down to 2,500 feet by Thursday night into Friday morning.
With more snow in the Sierra on Saturday night into Sunday, there could be travel issues then.
Video below: Truckee residents stock up ahead of Sierra storm
Looking ahead
By Thursday evening and into Friday, the rain and snow will be gone, but we may have some fog by Friday morning.
Northern California will get a break from the rain on Friday before the rain begins to develop again on Saturday and linger into Sunday.
But occasional rain and snow over the weekend at this point is still difficult to time out, our weather team says.
Warming centers in Sacramento open
Sacramento County is opening a warning center at DHA 28th Street Annex from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. from Wednesday through at least next week. It’s located at 1725 28th St. in downtown Sacramento. Learn more in the video player below.
Track real-time traffic updates here
(App users, click here to see our interactive traffic map.)
Track our interactive Doppler radar here
(App users, click here to see our interactive radar map.)
Download our app for the latest
Here is where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.
We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.