Enjoy the couple of hours of quiet because Northern California will soon be hit with back-to-back storms packing heavy rainfall, gusty winds and thunderstorms.
The next storm will slam California Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, increasing the risk of flooding, mudslides and high river levels. The rain is predicted to calm Tuesday night to make space for yet another “atmospheric river” storm Wednesday.
In Sacramento, thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon and will be coupled with heavy rain and wind gusts as high as 32 mph. The next round of thunderstorms are forecast to roar between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
Expect another round of showers Wednesday with wind gusts as high as 33 mph.
The Sierra Nevada could see “several more feet of snow” thanks to this week’s back-to-back California storms. Widespread mountains now is expected Tuesday night across the Great Basin.
Some good news: California is experiencing some relief from its persistent drought.
“When all is said and done,” The National Weather Service wrote in its Tuesday forecast discussion, “precipitation totals over the next few days will be in the 3 to 7 inch range through the Transverse Range of southern California, northward along the central to northern California coast ranges and through the Sierra.”
Many reservoirs across California, according to the National Weather Service, are now above their historic average levels.
Sacramento river levels
The National Weather Service issued multiple flood warnings this week including a flood advisory until 8 p.m. Tuesday and a flood watch until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The monitor stage for the Sacramento River at I Street is 27.5 feet and the flood stage is 33.5 feet. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the river is at 27.4 feet and is not projected to rise much more.
The monitor stage for the American River at the H Street Bridge is 39 feet and the flood stage is 42. As of Tuesday morning, the river was at about 30 feet.
National Weather Service issued a flood warning Sunday night for Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar in preparation for Monday’s rain. The area was at nearly 9 feet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, roughly two feet above its monitor stage.
The river at McConnell was at observed at 42 feet Tuesday morning, four feet below the area’s flood stage. It is not forecast to flood.
Sacramento weather forecast
Here’s a look at Sacramento’s forecast, as of Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Here’s what you need to know leading into the holiday weekend. For up-to-date forecasts, check back at weather.gov:
Tuesday | High near 52 degrees
Heavy showers and possibly a thunderstorm with wind gusts as 32 mph.
Tuesday night | Low near 47 degrees
Heavy showers and possibly a thunderstorm with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Wednesday | High near 49 degrees
Showers with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Wednesday night | Low of 48 degrees
Showers with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Thursday | High near 61 degrees
Chance of showers with southeast wind around 9 mph.
Thursday night | Low of 48 degrees
Chance of showers.
Friday | High near 59 degrees
Chance of showers.
Friday night | Low of 48 degrees
Showers are likely.
Saturday | High near 56 degrees
Showers.
Saturday night | Low of 47 degrees
Showers are likely.
Sunday | High near 55 degrees
Showers are likely.
Sunday night | Low near 47 degrees
Showers.
Monday | High near 54 degrees
Showers likely.
This story was originally published January 10, 2023 11:00 AM.
Brianna Taylor covers affordability on The Sacramento Bee’s service journalism desk as well as general news. Before joining The Bee in 2021, she reported in Missouri and Maryland. She grew up on the East Coast and is a graduate of Morgan State University.