354
FXUS66 KSTO 192043
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
1243 PM PST Thu Feb 19 2026

For additional details on weather and expected impacts over the
next 7 days, please visit weather.gov/sto/briefing.

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Cold storm brings continued dangerous travel impacts to the
   mountains and foothills with heavy snow and gusty winds today

 - Mostly dry and colder temperatures Friday and Saturday with a
   few lingering showers over the northern mountains

 - Warmer storm brings additional rounds of breezy southerly
   winds, precipitation and mountain snow Sunday through mid next
   week with higher snow levels

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...Today through Saturday...
Current RADAR imagery illustrates continued snowfall over the
Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades foothill and mountain areas
this afternoon. The majority of precipitation has ended for the
Valley and northern zones, however continued dangerous travel
conditions are forecast for the Sierra and southern Cascades
mountains and foothills through this afternoon as periods of
moderate to heavy snow continue to fall today. The Winter Storm
Warning has been cancelled for the Coast Range, Shasta County
mountains, northern Sacramento Valley and Burney Basin as the
heavier snow has moved out of the area, and the warning remains in
effect for the rest of our mountains and foothills until 10 PM
this evening. Winds have been gradually tapering off today, and
the Wind Advisory was also cancelled early. Some lingering breezy
conditions may be observed through the rest of the day, however
the strongest winds have subsided.

Precipitation will continue to taper off later today and then
drier weather returns for Friday and Saturday. Very cold
temperatures are forecast tonight into Friday morning and again
Friday night into Saturday morning. Friday is expected to have the
coldest morning lows, and we have issued Cold Weather Advisories
and Freeze Warnings to address the impacts from the cold weather.
Cold weather will be especially impactful for those in the
mountain and foothill communities that are without power from the
storm. Lighter showers and snow showers will be possible mainly over
the northern portion of our forecast area on Saturday before a
warmer system moves in on Sunday.

...Sunday into Next Week...
Ensemble guidance indicates a warmer system arriving later this
weekend that may bring additional rounds of rain and mountain snow
into next week, along with periodically breezy southerly winds.
The snow levels with this storm will be much higher than the
current one, with the latest guidance showing snow levels
initially around 4000-5000 feet on Sunday, rising to 6000-7000+
feet Sunday night through Tuesday, and then lowering down to 5000-
6000 feet Wednesday. Slick roads and travel delays will be
possible with this next storm. Be sure to check back for updates
as we get closer!

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR conditions this afternoon, with a slight chance for MVFR
conditions due to mist or fog in the Sacramento area overnight.
MVFR/IFR conditions continue in the mountains through around 12z
Friday due to lingering snowfall. Southerly Valley wind gusts up
to 20 kts and mountain gusts up to 40 kts through 06z Friday, then
winds generally below 12 kts for the remainder of the forecast
period.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Friday for
Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Northern
Sacramento Valley-Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern
Sacramento Valley.

Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST this evening for Motherlode-
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-West Slope Northern Sierra
Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park.

Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Friday
for the Sacramento Valley, foothills and mountains.

&&

$$