SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A powerful early-season storm will drench much of Northern and Central California beginning Monday, bringing widespread rain, mountain snow, and isolated thunderstorms through Wednesday morning. The system will impact both commuters and mountain travelers, with chain controls and localized flooding likely.
According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, the cold Pacific front will spread rain across the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys Monday through Tuesday night. Rainfall totals of 1.5 to 3 inches are expected from Redding to Merced, with up to 2.3 inches in the foothills around Placerville, Sonora, and Yosemite Valley. Snow levels will lower to around 5,500–6,500 feet, where heavy accumulations are expected.
The Sierra Nevada will bear the brunt of the storm. Forecasters project 8–12 inches of snow at Donner Peak, 6–8 inches near Echo Summit, and up to 2–3 feet at Sonora Pass and Ebbetts Pass by early Wednesday. Chain controls, icy roads, and visibility below a quarter mile could make travel over Interstate 80 and Highway 50 hazardous.
Caltrans urges motorists to check QuickMap before travel, allow extra time, and carry chains. Lower elevations will see ponding on roads and slick conditions, especially during the Tuesday morning commute. Thunderstorms may add bursts of heavy rain across the Sacramento metro and the northern San Joaquin Valley.
