Weather
Northern California Weather Oct. 26-31: Freezing Lows Ahead by Halloween
Sacramento, CA – A noticeable late October cooldown is expected across Northern California this week, with afternoon temperatures steadily declining and overnight lows approaching or falling below fre
By Miles Carter · 2026-10-26T01:02:07.215Z
Sacramento, CA – A noticeable late October cooldown is expected across Northern California this week, with afternoon temperatures steadily declining and overnight lows approaching or falling below freezing in several mountain and foothill communities ahead of Halloween.
According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, temperatures will remain below normal through Saturday, October 31, with additional cooling expected late in the week.
The coldest conditions are forecast in higher elevation communities, where overnight temperatures could fall into the 20s.
Sacramento Valley: Temperatures Drop Through Halloween
Sacramento is forecast to reach 72 degrees Monday, October 26, before cooling to 70 Tuesday and 68 Wednesday.
By Thursday, highs are expected to fall to 65 degrees, followed by 63 Friday and 61 Saturday.
Overnight lows in Sacramento will decline from 52 degrees Monday morning to approximately 45 degrees Saturday morning.
Nearby communities, including Stockton, Chico and Redding, will experience similar cooling trends.
Mountain Communities Face Freezing Temperatures
The most significant cold weather impacts are expected across Northern California's mountains and higher elevations.
Burney could experience morning lows of 23 degrees Tuesday, 21 Friday and just 20 degrees Saturday.
Donner Pass is forecast to drop to 29 degrees Tuesday morning and 27 degrees Saturday.
Quincy could see temperatures reach 22 degrees Tuesday morning, with lows remaining in the 20s through the weekend.
These conditions could affect sensitive outdoor plants, exposed plumbing and residents spending extended periods outdoors.
Halloween Weekend Brings Additional Cooling
Saturday, October 31, is expected to be among the coolest days of the forecast period.
High temperatures could reach just 41 degrees at Donner Pass, 52 in Burney, 59 in Auburn and 61 in Sacramento.
Residents planning Halloween activities should prepare for chilly conditions, particularly after sunset and in mountain communities.
The National Weather Service encourages residents to monitor updated forecasts as temperatures continue trending downward.