Wet weather, snow and winds are expected to start in Northern California by Thursday evening, although the first part of the day will stay dry. Rain and snow will also be in the area into the weekend. Here’s what you can expect: Rain ThursdayThursday morning is starting out with some fog that will be replaced by cloud cover as we go into the afternoon, according to meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn. By 5 p.m., rain makes its way across Solano, Yolo and Sutter counties before making its way across the Valley. “So most of the day today, if you need to get things done before it rains, if you need to clean out the leaves from the gutters, do it today because the rain starts this evening and it lasts overnight,” Verdoorn said. The rain from this first weather system will clear up before the sun comes up Friday. Friday night to also see some rain, snowFriday is expected to stay dry throughout the day, but things will start to pick up as we get into Friday night. By 8:30 p.m. Friday, we’ll start to see some scattered showers in the Sierra and into the Sacramento Valley. “But this next storm, as it comes through, the meat of it is going to hit us as we go through Saturday morning,” Verdoorn said. For this wave, we could see rainfall totals under a quarter of an inch in the Valley with a little bit over that into the Foothills.Snow levels Friday will be around 3,000 to 4,000 feet. “So this is going to be a colder system, but there’s not going to be a lot of snow. In fact, we’re looking at, again, just a few inches here or there,” he said.Preparing for heavy rainfall, snow into the weekendBy 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Northern California could see periods of heavy rainfall with some extreme snow in the Sierra. Drivers should keep in mind that the heavy snow will impact roads and make it difficult to keep up with plowing. “Travel not recommended as we go through Saturday morning and then Saturday afternoon and on into the evening, we continue with the showers coming down heavy at times,” Verdoorn said. Northern California could get half an inch to over an inch and a half of rain from this system. We could have 3 to 4 feet of snow in the upper elevations, and most of it will be above 4,000 to 5,000 feet.Windy conditionsCalm wind conditions are in the area for Thursday morning, but those winds will increase as rain comes through later in the evening.Wind speeds Thursday evening range from 10 to 15 miles per hour. Winds will taper off as we head into Friday, but will start to pick up Friday afternoon and as we go into Saturday. By 10 a.m. Saturday morning, wind speeds pick up and will range anywhere between 20 to 30 miles per hour. “Those are going to be your sustained winds with gusts over 40 miles per hour. So winds are going to be an element with this storm as it comes on through, not only here in the valley, but through the foothills in the Sierra,” Verdoorn said. Winds will be especially strong over the tips of the mountains and peaks in the higher elevations. Click here for a look at Caltrans’ QuickMap for traffic conditions. Click here to search conditions by highway.| Video Below | Skiers, snowboarders hit the slopes for the weekend after Sierra snowstorms Warming centers in Sacramento, Stockton openSacramento County is opening a warming center at DHA 28th Street Annex from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Dec. 8. It’s located at 1725 28th St. in downtown Sacramento. Learn more in the video player below.The city of Sacramento is opening its Outreach and Engagement Center at 3615 Auburn Blvd. and the North Fifth Street Shelter lobby at 700 North Fifth Street through Dec. 8 from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Track real-time traffic updates here(App users, click here to see our interactive traffic map.)Track Northern California 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.
Wet weather, snow and winds are expected to start in Northern California by Thursday evening, although the first part of the day will stay dry.
Rain and snow will also be in the area into the weekend.
Here’s what you can expect:
Rain Thursday
Thursday morning is starting out with some fog that will be replaced by cloud cover as we go into the afternoon, according to meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn.
By 5 p.m., rain makes its way across Solano, Yolo and Sutter counties before making its way across the Valley.
“So most of the day today, if you need to get things done before it rains, if you need to clean out the leaves from the gutters, do it today because the rain starts this evening and it lasts overnight,” Verdoorn said.
The rain from this first weather system will clear up before the sun comes up Friday.
Friday night to also see some rain, snow
Friday is expected to stay dry throughout the day, but things will start to pick up as we get into Friday night.
By 8:30 p.m. Friday, we’ll start to see some scattered showers in the Sierra and into the Sacramento Valley.
“But this next storm, as it comes through, the meat of it is going to hit us as we go through Saturday morning,” Verdoorn said.
For this wave, we could see rainfall totals under a quarter of an inch in the Valley with a little bit over that into the Foothills.
Snow levels Friday will be around 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
“So this is going to be a colder system, but there’s not going to be a lot of snow. In fact, we’re looking at, again, just a few inches here or there,” he said.
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Preparing for heavy rainfall, snow into the weekend
By 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Northern California could see periods of heavy rainfall with some extreme snow in the Sierra.
Drivers should keep in mind that the heavy snow will impact roads and make it difficult to keep up with plowing.
“Travel not recommended as we go through Saturday morning and then Saturday afternoon and on into the evening, we continue with the showers coming down heavy at times,” Verdoorn said.
Northern California could get half an inch to over an inch and a half of rain from this system.
We could have 3 to 4 feet of snow in the upper elevations, and most of it will be above 4,000 to 5,000 feet.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Windy conditions
Calm wind conditions are in the area for Thursday morning, but those winds will increase as rain comes through later in the evening.
Wind speeds Thursday evening range from 10 to 15 miles per hour.
Winds will taper off as we head into Friday, but will start to pick up Friday afternoon and as we go into Saturday.
By 10 a.m. Saturday morning, wind speeds pick up and will range anywhere between 20 to 30 miles per hour.
“Those are going to be your sustained winds with gusts over 40 miles per hour. So winds are going to be an element with this storm as it comes on through, not only here in the valley, but through the foothills in the Sierra,” Verdoorn said.
Winds will be especially strong over the tips of the mountains and peaks in the higher elevations.
Click here for a look at Caltrans’ QuickMap for traffic conditions. Click here to search conditions by highway.
| Video Below | Skiers, snowboarders hit the slopes for the weekend after Sierra snowstorms
Warming centers in Sacramento, Stockton open
Sacramento County is opening a warming center at DHA 28th Street Annex from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Dec. 8. It’s located at 1725 28th St. in downtown Sacramento. Learn more in the video player below.
The city of Sacramento is opening its Outreach and Engagement Center at 3615 Auburn Blvd. and the North Fifth Street Shelter lobby at 700 North Fifth Street through Dec. 8 from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Track real-time traffic updates here
(App users, click here to see our interactive traffic map.)
Track Northern California 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.