Sacramento, California – A cool, glassy dawn settles over the valley as clear skies fade into a light haze and pavement still holds the night’s chill. The crisp air carries that steady early-November quiet, but a mid-week change is already stirring as Sacramento prepares for its first meaningful stretch of holiday-season travel.
According to the National Weather Service, clouds increase through today and build into Wednesday as a Pacific system approaches the region. Showers become likely after midnight and continue into Thursday morning, creating slowdowns along I-5, Highway 99, and key connectors across the metro. Drivers heading out early for Thanksgiving plans should plan for slick roads, reduced visibility at times, and heavier pockets of rain near the Sacramento Executive Airport and the Pocket-Greenhaven area.
Wednesday starts partly sunny, but the calm breaks as moisture deepens from the coast to the valley floor. Winds stay light, yet the thickening cloud deck signals that wet pavement is only hours away. To be fair, this is not a winter storm, but it does serve as a Winter Tease. Models hint at a small dip in temperatures Thursday morning that could bring a chill strong enough for light frost in rural spots north toward Elverta and east near Rancho Murieta.
Thursday’s showers taper by late morning as highs reach the upper 50s. Conditions dry into Friday, setting up mostly sunny skies as the region enters a milder weekend—ideal for outdoor leaf cleanup or early holiday decorating.
Residents traveling later this week should monitor updates as longer-range patterns suggest another system forming over the Pacific, potentially lining up with Thanksgiving routes.
Five-Day Outlook for Sacramento, California
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 60.
Tuesday Night: Increasing clouds, low 48.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, high 58.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely, low 50.
Thursday: Showers likely early, high 56.
