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000
FXUS66 KSTO 140846
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
146 AM PDT Sun Apr 14 2024

.Synopsis...
A weak weather system continues to bring showers and mountain
snow showers through today. Drier and warmer weather returns next
week.

&&

.Discussion...
Latest radar shows light precipitation wrapping around the
right front quadrant of the closed upper low currently spinning
just off the coast of the Bay Area. A few cameras have light snow
falling in the northern Sierra. Observations and snow level radars
indicate that snow levels are currently around 3500-4000 feet.

The wrap-around precipitation will continue overnight tonight
mainly impacting Shasta, Tehama, and surrounding foothill areas,
with less or no precipitation expected for areas south. Additional
precipitation amounts of 0.10"-1" are forecast through today,
heaviest in Shasta County and in the foothills through this
morning. Latest hires has been showing higher precipitation than
what is actually falling though, so confidence on actual amounts
isn`t as high as it normally would be for an on-going event.

Mountain snow showers may cause locally minor impacts for
elevations above 4000 feet for mountains north of I-80, with
little snow amounts (trace to 2") from I-80 south. Heaviest snow
amounts continue to be at Lassen Peak and surrounding mountain
peaks in Lassen National Park where an additional 7-12 inches will
be possible today. Given the local nature of the heavy snow and
underwhelming performance of the current wrap-around
precipitation, impacts should continue to be somewhat limited.
Expect periods of slick and snow covered roads, with travel
delays from possible chain controls through Sunday. People should
check road conditions and the forecast before traveling in the
mountains.

As the upper-low weakens and shifts southeast through today, the
wrap-around precipitation will dwindle bringing periods of light
showers to mainly the northern Sacramento Valley though some
sprinkles will be possible this afternoon/evening for areas south
as well before the weather system completely moves out of the
area by late tonight. Dry, northerly flow will filter in Monday,
bringing occasionally breezy north to east winds.

Cool temperatures will continue this weekend, then warmer and
mostly sunny weather returns next week with rising heights aloft.
By Tuesday, daytime high temperatures are expected to return to
the mid to upper 70s in the Valley, increasing even further by
Wednesday, with Valley high temperatures in the low 80s.

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Thursday THROUGH Sunday)...

Upper level ridging progged to be main synoptic feature through
the extended forecast period. This will result in dry weather over
interior NorCal with above normal temperatures. NBM showing high
temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal Thursday through Sunday
with low to mid 80s in the Central Valley and mainly 60s and 70s
for the mountains and foothills. Locally gusty north to east wind
possible at times.

&&

.AVIATION...

In Central Vly, areas MVFR with lcl IFR possible til abt 20z,
otherwise VFR. Sfc wind mainly below 12 kts. In foothills/mtns,
widespread MVFR with areas IFR and lcl LIFR obscuring trrn
possible in -shra or -shsn thru 06z Mon. Snow levels 3000-4000 ft
this mrng, rising to 4000 to 5500 this aftn.
&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$