Redding, CA – Emergency officials across Northern California are urging residents to begin preparing today for potential winter hazards, including freezing rain that can occur during temperature inversions and warm-front transitions. While the region is better known for heavy rain and Sierra snow, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns that even brief periods of freezing rain can create dangerous travel conditions and damage trees and powerlines in the North State.
According to NOAA, a thin glaze of ice can snap weakened branches and create hazardous conditions on major routes, including I-5, Highway 44, Highway 299, and higher-elevation passes in Shasta, Lassen, and Trinity counties. Cold air can become trapped in valley floors—especially in the northern Sacramento Valley—making freezing rain possible even when upper-level temperatures are warmer. With more temperature swings expected this season, officials say today is the ideal time for residents to begin winter preparedness.
According to the National Weather Service, homeowners should start by trimming weak or damaged tree limbs around homes, sidewalks, and driveways. These branches are often the first to fall once ice begins to accumulate. NOAA also reminds drivers not to raise windshield wipers before storms, as wipers can freeze to the glass and snap; keeping them lowered and covered is recommended.
Emergency managers advise residents to keep at least a week’s supply of non-perishable food, bottled water, and essential prescriptions. Ice storms can cause localized outages and make travel unsafe across Redding, Red Bluff, Chico, and foothill communities. Officials further warn residents not to park vehicles beneath trees, where ice-weighted limbs may fall without warning.
To prepare for potential outages, residents should fully charge phones, flashlights, power banks, and essential electronics today. Homeowners with generators should safely store extra gasoline and perform a test run before winter storms arrive. Stocking rock salt or ice melt can also help reduce slip hazards around walkways and porches.
“Even occasional ice events can disrupt communities across Northern California,” the NWS said. “Preparing today is the best way to stay safe this winter.”
