Sacramento, CA – A cooler, wetter pattern is forming across California as November ends and December begins, with long-range forecasts showing the first signs of a more active storm track pushing into the state.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, temperatures from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5 are expected to trend near to below normal across much of California — including the coast, the Central Valley, and the Sierra Nevada. Cooler mornings and evenings are expected statewide, with the biggest drops showing up across northern and inland areas.
NOAA’s precipitation outlook shows a moderate signal for above-normal precipitation, especially for Northern California, the Sierra Nevada, and portions of the Central Coast. This suggests the door is opening for multiple weak-to-moderate systems to move across the state next week, delivering rain, showers, and accumulating mountain snow.
Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego, carries a lower but increasing chance of light rain or scattered showers as moisture gradually spreads southward. Northern cities such as San Francisco, Sacramento, Redding, Chico, and Eureka are more likely to see steadier rainfall, with pockets of heavier rain possible depending on storm timing.
In the Sierra, elevations above 5,000–6,000 feet may see accumulating snow, especially during colder overnight periods. Sierra passes — including I-80 Donner Summit, Highway 50 Echo Summit, and stretches of Highway 395 — could face slick, snowy conditions at times.
Forecasters emphasize that while no major atmospheric river is indicated yet, the emerging pattern favors multiple disturbances that could make early December noticeably wetter and colder compared to recent weeks.
California residents should monitor updated local forecasts as the state transitions into a more winter-like pattern.
