Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
653 FXUS66 KSTO 202150 AFDSTO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 150 PM PST Thu Nov 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Lingering rain and snow showers this evening through Friday morning. Potential for fog south of I-80 mainly in the northern San Joaquin Valley. - Drier weather returns this weekend into early next week, with light offshore winds. - Dry weather and slightly above normal temperatures favored for Thanksgiving Day .DISCUSSION... ...Today-Friday... Cloudy skies prevail overhead this afternoon as a weather system begins to exit the region. Lingering isolated rain showers in the Valley & foothills as well as snow showers over the Sierra will continue through this evening before gradually diminishing early Friday morning. Fog and low stratus development is possible tomorrow morning, with the HREF showing a 30 to 50% chance of less than 0.5 mile visibility along the eastern portion of the Valley south of I-80. Coverage will be limited to the eastern Valley as a result of offshore winds that are expected to develop later this evening, continuing through Friday. North winds are expected through the Valley and downsloping northeast to east winds over the Sierra. Forecast gusts are between 15 to 25 mph along the western Sacramento Valley, with gusts 25 to 45 mph over the Sierra and higher elevation foothills. ...Saturday and Onward... Dry weather returns this weekend and through next week as weak ridging builds over the Pacific northwest. Temperatures will be in the 60s within the valley and the 50s in the mountains for daytime highs. Mostly sunny skies and lighter north winds are expected through the weekend and into mid next week. Dry weather looks to continue for Thanksgiving Day, with slightly above normal temperatures and light winds. Clusters and ensembles continue to hint at the ridge breaking down late next week with the introduction of a low pressure system off of the CA coast. Confidence remains low on timing, impacts, and development of the low pressure system at this time. .AVIATION... Conditions improve to general VFR at TAF sites after 00Z Friday as a weather system exits the region and precipitation gradually tapers off. Patchy MVFR/IFR/LIFR conditions possible between 11Z-17Z Friday in portions of the southern Sacramento and northern San Joaquin valleys. Winds generally less than 12kts through 03Z Friday, then winds increase out of the north in the Valley/Delta with gusts of 15 to 25 kts, and out of the northeast to east in the foothills/mountains with gusts of 20 to 40 kts. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$