SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — In an unusually wet start to May, Californians can expect more rain and even snow as a storm arrives in the Golden State on Friday night.
In a National Weather Service report on Friday, meteorologists in Sacramento said snowfall would arrive in California and Nevada's northern Sierra Nevada mountain range on Saturday, as a weather system from the Gulf of Alaska brings showers, isolated thunderstorms and cold temperatures.
“It seems like our spring weather pattern enjoys messing up our weekend plans by always returning us to winter!” meteorologists with the agency's Reno office said in a weather discussion released Friday morning.
The front will first bring strong southwest winds late Friday night. Gusts will reach between 80 to 100 mph on Saturday afternoon along the mountain ridges throughout the eastern Sierras.
Then, snow will begin to arrive. The Tahoe Basin will have an 80% chance of at least two inches of powder at and above 6,000 feet, while snow is slated to start falling below 5,000 feet across the range by Saturday evening.
"People should plan ahead for the late-season winter weather and check the forecast and road conditions before traveling in the mountains," the Sacramento NWS office said. "Snow-covered roads, chain controls and travel delays will all be possible.”
Most of Northern California can expect daily temperatures to peak at around 15 to 20 degrees below average, with temperatures likely to stay below 40 degrees throughout the day, meteorologists said.
The Sacramento valley and much of Northern California can also expect scattered showers and possible thunderstorms. By Saturday night, the storm will spread into Southern California.
In Los Angeles, meteorologists say they expect less than a quarter of an inch of rain in most coastal areas. Rainfall amounts could be greater at high elevations in Santa Barbara County, Ventura County and western Los Angeles County.
Unusually cool temperatures are slated to continue through early next week, with a chance for more showers on Monday.
After two years of wetter-than-average winters, the rain and slow will further add to the Golden State's water surplus. California is now largely free of drought except for areas along the Oregon border and the state’s southeast corner bordering Arizona, according to U.S. Drought Monitor totals released Thursday.
March snowstorms brought the statewide snowpack to 110% of the average. The Sierra ranges, including the southern Sierra, are measuring at 100% or higher — a significant and welcome development following years of crippling drought. The Sierra snowpack supplies water to around 27 million residents and accounts for around 30% of California’s water needs.
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