Forest, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

800
FXUS66 KSTO 102044
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
144 PM PDT Mon Mar 10 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Dry and seasonable weather persists through Tuesday afternoon,
ahead of our next winter storm bringing heavy snow, gusty winds,
rain w/ isolated t-storms Wednesday and Thursday. Active weather
will continue through the weekend with the potential for another
major winter storm into early next week

&&

.DISCUSSION...
As we are in the literal quiet before the storm, we will see
another warm and dry day with scattered cloud cover as the main
forecast highlights today.

Looking to tomorrow, we will see the pattern shift, first with
increasing winds across much of the CWA (County Warning Area)
Tuesday afternoon and evening with gusts of 20-35 MPH throughout
the Valley, up to 45 MPH over portions of the northeastern
foothills and Northern Sac. Valley. Wind are expected to increase
into Wednesday with peak gusts expected 30-45 MPH in the Central
Valley and up to 55-65 MPH over the foothills and mountains.
Strongest winds are forecasted to be late morning Wednesday across
much of the Central and Northern Sac. Valley and northeastern
foothills. On Thursday, winds taper down with lingering strong
gusts up to 35-40 MPH over the Sierra. NBM probabilities have a
40-70% chance of gusts above 40 MPH across the Central and
northern Sac. Valley and the adjacent foothills. With an elevated
wind signal showing on the EC Extreme Forecast Index and the
persistent forecast signal the winds have shown over the last
several days, a Wind Advisory will be in effect from 8 PM Tuesday
to 11 PM Wednesday for gusts 45-55 MPH across the Northern and
Central Sac. Valley and Northeastern Foothills. Strongest area of
winds will be the northeastern foothills with the windiest period
being Wednesday late morning to early afternoon.

In regards to snow, Winter Storm Warnings are in effect from 10 PM
Tuesday to 10 PM Thursday for the Shasta County Mtns/Coast Range,
Southern Cascades, Lassen NP areas, and Sierra for heavy snow and
gusty wind causing moderate to major travel impacts expected.

For Shasta County/Coast Range/Burney Basin Abv 3000 feet:
4-12 inches, up to 1-2 feet expected with winds 30-45 MPH, up to
50-60 MPH. Difficult travel with travel delays, chain controls,
and possible road closures are expected with low visibility from
the combination of wind and snow. Heaviest snow expected
Wednesday morning and afternoon.

For S. Cascades/Lassen NP/W. Slope Northern Sierra Nevada:
1-3 feet expected, up to 4 feet over the highest peaks and winds
up to 65 MPH from 10 PM Tuesday to 10 PM Thursday. Travel is
highly discouraged as it will be very difficult to impossible from
snow-covered roads, chain controls, road closures, and significant
travel delays all expected. Heaviest snow is expected Wednesday
through the evening hours.

With both systems, please check the latest road conditions at
quickmap.dot.ca.gov or dial 5 1 1 before making any travel
attempts. Although rates will slow on Thursday, please continue to
monitor the forecast as subsequent waves will follow and there may
not be a clean break in the weather and/or resulting travel
conditions.

Lastly, we can expected minor to moderate impacts from rain as
periods of moderate rain moves through the Valley. Most of the
Central Valley will see 0.50-1.00" with 1 to 3 inches across the
adjacent foothills and Northern Sac. Valley. The thunderstorm
threat has reduced for Wednesday to below 15% now with Thursday
(15-25% chance) now looking to be the better day to see isolated
thunderstorms with best chances across the Eastern Valley and
adjacent foothills.

Overall, we can expect several days of impactful weather with snow
being the biggest driver of inclement weather this week. Please
check weather.gov and find the latest forecast for you and your
loved ones!

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Friday THROUGH Monday)...

Despite the expectation for the midweek trough to remain
relatively progressive as it ejects toward the Plains late week
into the weekend, very little reprieve from active weather is
expected for interior NorCal. As the trough translates eastward,
predominantly northwesterly flow aloft looks to remain in place
from Friday into the weekend. A subtle shortwave traveling through
the flow pattern Friday will pull a weak atmospheric river plume
along with it and introduce additional precipitation impacts
throughout the day on Friday. Given the southeasterly trajectory,
most accumulating precipitation is expected across the northern
Sacramento Valley and along the Shasta County mountains toward the
Sierra/southern Cascades. As a result, mountain snow, primarily
above 4000 feet, looks to be the main impact from this progressive
system, with isolated light showers possible for Valley
locations. While exact details remain a bit uncertain, there is
some potential for light snowfall accumulations into the upper
foothills as temperature and snow level recovery from the midweek
system will likely remain limited. With snow amounts trending
upward for this period, continued moderate impacts look likely
with major impacts still remaining a possibility, if from nothing
else than several days of snow with no clear break.

Furthermore, ensemble guidance in indicating another stronger
trough building into the region by the weekend. There are notable
differences between ensemble suites regarding the magnitude and
trajectory of this trough, but most solutions are trending toward
potential for additional travel impacts from precipitation into
the weekend. With a prolonged period of active weather expected to
encapsulated much of the next 7 days ahead, be sure to take time
to prepare for adverse weather impacts, monitor the forecast for
additional updates, and be sure to have a reliable way to receive
weather and travel alerts.

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR conditions expected next 24 hours across interior NorCal.
Light winds less than 12 kts expected through 18z Tuesday, then
southerly winds increase with gusts up to 20 kts in the Valley
possible.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM Tuesday to 11 PM PDT Thursday
for Burney Basin / Eastern Shasta County-Mountains Southwestern
Shasta County to Western Colusa County-Shasta Lake Area /
Northern Shasta County-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western
Plumas County/Lassen Park.

Wind Advisory from 8 PM Tuesday to 11 PM PDT Wednesday for
Central Sacramento Valley-Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-
Northern Sacramento Valley.

&&

$$