Thunderstorms, snow likely in north state
CHICO >> A cold front and series of wet storms are bringing cooler weather and likely precipitation to the north state, starting Monday into late Wednesday.
National Weather Service Sacramento meteorologist Cory Mueller said the storm appeared to be slowly moving in midday Monday, with slight chances for rain into the evening. However the highest likelihood for rain showers in the valley, and snow in the higher elevations, is projected for Tuesday.
Conditions look favorable for active thunderstorms with the possibility for funnel clouds Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service Sacramento. Rain is expected to remain below flash flood criteria for recent burn scars for Monday.
Valley and foothill storms with heavy rain are possible both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, although Mueller said heavy rain could take place in any thunder storm which arrives in the next two days, particularly during Tuesday night.
Between 3/10 inch to an inch of rain will be possible through Wednesday in the valley which includes Chico and Oroville, while the foothills could see between one to two inches. Mueller noted the higher elevations are more likely to receive snowfall rather than rain, with snow possibly falling and accumulating at elevations as low as 2,500 feet.
This snow was projected likely to take place starting late Monday afternoon and Thursday morning. The Coastal Range and southern Cascades mountain ranges could receive two to seven inches of snow while the Sierra Nevada
is projected to get one to five inches. From Tuesday through early Thursday, the projections are four to nine inches in the Coastal Range and southern Cascades and five to 10 inches in the Sierra Nevada.
Due to snowfall, a Winter Storm Warning is in place both days, with warnings for the potential for foothill and mountain travel delays and chain controls due to slick roads from rain.
As this storm system is a cold one, daytime temperatures will be low through- out the north state through Wednesday. High tempera- tures in the low 40s with overnight lows down to the early 40s are expected in the valley. In the foothills, temps in the upper 30s to mid 40s will be the highs, with overnight lows expected to range from low 30s or upper 20s in the mountain areas, with lower elevations likely experiencing lows in the low 40s.
“Once we clear out
Wednesday night, things (low overnight temps) will be cooler but precipitation will be going down,” Mueller said.
Relative humidity (how much moisture is held in the air) will be fairly high through Wednesday. Starting Thursday the pattern
will return to daytime sun and higher temps, with lower overnight temps, into the weekend. Another active weather system may move in Sunday into the early week, he said.