SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A calm, gray start to Wednesday will soon give way to a change more fitting for late October. After several mild afternoons in the 70s, Northern California is on track for its first notable round of fall rain by the weekend, with cooler breezes and damp roads arriving late Friday into Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, clouds will thicken through Thursday before a Pacific disturbance approaches the coast Friday evening. Highs near 72 degrees will hold steady until the front passes, then slip into the mid-60s as scattered rain and low clouds fill the valley. The system is not expected to bring flooding, but slick roadways and gusty winds could slow traffic along I-5 and Highway 50 during the first half of the weekend.
Showers will likely continue at times through Sunday, bringing a quarter inch or more of rainfall across much of the metro area. The foothills could pick up higher totals, especially west of Auburn and Placerville. Temperatures will drop steadily through the weekend, with lows near 50 and brisk, damp air by early Sunday morning.
Residents planning outdoor cleanup or early Halloween decorating should wrap up tasks by Thursday evening. Those attending Friday night football games or weekend markets should prepare for wet conditions and cooler air. To be fair, it’s not winter yet—but this weekend’s weather marks the start of California’s seasonal turn toward stormier skies.
Five-Day Forecast for Sacramento, CA:
Wed: 70/54 – Mostly cloudy; calm winds from the southwest.
Thu: 72/52 – Partly sunny; mild with calm afternoon breeze.
Fri: 72/57 – Partly sunny; rain chances increasing by late evening.
Sat: 66/53 – Cloudy with showers; breezy, cooler pattern develops.
Sun: 64/51 – Scattered showers; damp and noticeably cooler.
