Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
199 FXUS66 KSTO 191930 AFDSTO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 1230 PM PDT Sun Jul 19 2026 For additional details on weather and expected impacts over the next 7 days, please visit weather.gov/sto/briefing. .KEY MESSAGES... - Elevated fire weather concerns in the northern Sacramento Valley and higher terrain due to isolated thunderstorm chances today and tonight. - Monsoonal moisture will continue to bring chances for wet/dry thunderstorms in the mountains through mid week. && .DISCUSSION... Current satellite has generally clear skies across California, with a few scattered to broken clouds over portions of northern California. A continued surge of monsoonal moisture today will bring chances for showers and isolated thunderstorms this afternoon, evening, and overnight for the Sierra. Best chances will be along and south of I-80 along the crest. There does exist a slight chance (10-15 percent) for an isolated shower or isolated thunderstorm over parts of the Coastal range, northern Sacramento Valley, southern Cascades, and through Shasta county this evening and overnight. Confidence remains low on development as instability and lift is lacking over this area of California. The better instability and forcing needed for sustained thunderstorms is over the Sierra and in Nevada. Dry thunderstorms are possible in this region overnight as soundings show dry lower levels. Dry thunderstorms will also be possible in the Sierra this afternoon through the overnight hours. With the isolated wet/dry thunderstorm chances there is an elevated fire weather concern for the Sierra, southern Cascades, northern Sacramento Valley, into the Coastal Range and Shasta county this evening through the overnight. There will be a continued surge of monsoonal moisture through mid week, with the best chances for thunderstorms over the mountains Tuesday through Wednesday. We will continue to monitor thunderstorm chances and any further potential for dry thunderstorms through the mid week timeframe. Otherwise, temperatures will remain seasonal across the area through the end of the week. Winds will be breezy at times near the Delta and southern Sacramento Valley during the evening hours. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions through the TAF period, with slight chances for a shower or isolated storm near RDD and RBL this afternoon and evening. Otherwise, expect SCT to BKN clouds 21z through 12z for areas along and north of Highway 50. MOD and SCK will see FEW to SCT clouds this evening and overnight, with BKN at times. Thunderstorm chances at the higher terrain overnight and into the morning hours. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$