Active weather pattern to arrive over Northern California bringing unsettled temps, thunderstorms

Sunday’s weather will also be marked by gusty winds of 20 to 35 mph, particularly around the Sierra Crest and the Delta region.Photo byJeremy ThomasonUnsplash

Northern California residents can expect cooler temperatures, scattered showers, and a chance of thunderstorms starting Sunday as an active weather pattern moves in. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Sacramento reports that while today and Saturday will bring seasonable temperatures in the upper 80s to mid-90s in the Valley, conditions will change dramatically by Sunday.

An upper-level low-pressure system is forecast to move down from the Pacific Northwest, bringing increased moisture and cooler temperatures. This will lead to a 15-25% chance of thunderstorms, especially over the northern Sacramento Valley, nearby foothills, and the northern mountains, including areas around the Park Fire Burn Scar, where there are concerns about potential debris flows.

Sunday’s weather will also be marked by gusty winds of 20 to 35 mph, particularly around the Sierra Crest and the Delta region. These gusts, combined with ongoing dry conditions, have prompted elevated fire weather warnings for areas where locally breezy canyon winds are already being observed.

Thunderstorm chances are expected to linger into Monday, primarily over the Sierra Crest south of Highway 50. Precipitation totals are forecast to be light, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain south of Interstate 80, while areas in the northern Sacramento Valley, northern mountains, and around Mount Lassen could receive up to half an inch to an inch of rain.

The coolest day will likely be Monday, with Valley highs dropping into the low 70s, a sharp contrast to the weekend heat.