Northern California storm forecast: A warmer storm system will bring widespread rain on Tuesday
A warmer storm system will bring widespread rain back to Northern California on Tuesday, marking the next KCRA 3 Weather Impact Day.
IT TO THE RESORT FOR SOME FRESH POW. WE WANT TO CHECK IN NOW WITH METEOROLOGIST OPHELIA YOUNG. SO, OPHELIA, YOU’RE TRACKING THE CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW. NOT JUST HERE AT HOME, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO WHAT ARE WE SEEING? WELL, WE’RE TRACKING A HUGE NOR’EASTER THAT’S MOVING THROUGH THE EAST COAST RIGHT NOW. AND THAT’S BRINGING MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW TO PARTS LIKE NEW YORK BACK HERE ON THE WEST COAST, HOWEVER, IT’S ALL SMILES AS THIS WEEKEND ENDS WITH CALM CONDITIONS AND A FEW CLOUDS THAT ARE ROLLING IN. BUT AS FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, MAINLY DRY FOR THE REGION, CURRENT TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 60S UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY STILL IN THE MID 60S IN MODESTO AND STOCKTON. AUBURN AND PLACERVILLE CLIMBED INTO THE 60S, NOW INTO THE 50S, TRUCKEE AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE PRETTY QUICKLY. COOLING INTO THE 30S NOW MADE IT UP TO 66 DEGREES AT THE SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT TODAY, BACK ABOVE THE NORMAL. THAT WAS THE PLAN THIS MORNING, HOWEVER, DID START OFF A LITTLE CHILLY AS WE GOT DOWN TO 36 DEGREES, BUT WE CERTAINLY MADE UP FOR IT THIS AFTERNOON. AT THE TIME THAT WE HIT THOSE HIGHS, WE WERE ANYWHERE FROM 6 TO 9 DEGREES WARMER THAN 24 HOURS PRIOR IN THE VALLEY. EVEN TRUCKEE AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE HIGHS WERE A FEW DEGREES UP RIGHT NOW, STILL HOLDING ON TO THAT TEMPERATURE TREND. IT IS A REALLY NICE EVENING TO GO ON A WALK, MAYBE HAVE DINNER ON THE PATIO. THE WINDS HAVE LIGHTENED UP. WE HAVE SEEN A BREEZE FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT GENERALLY BELOW 15MPH. NOW FURTHER NORTH, THERE HAS BEEN SOME ACTIVE WEATHER, A FEW SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH THE COASTAL RANGE AND THE VERY NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE VALLEY THAT IS SPILLING IN FROM MORE STORMS, RAIN AND SNOW MOVING INTO THE PACIFIC SOUTH NORTHWEST. AGAIN, WE ARE WATCHING A LARGE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE. YOU CAN SEE IT SPLITTING PRETTY MUCH INTO TWO. THAT’S SPINNING OFF THE WEST COAST, AND THIS IS GOING TO BRING US A RAINY MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. SO LET’S WALK YOU THROUGH FUTURECAST HERE TONIGHT. DRY MAYBE A FEW MORE SHOWERS IN THE VERY NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE. BUT MONDAY IS GOING TO BE MAINLY DRY FOR THE FORECAST AREA AS WELL. HOWEVER, BY THE END OF TOMORROW WE’RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO OUR NORTHWEST FOR RAIN THAT WILL BE MOVING PAST THE COASTAL RANGE OVERNIGHT. GOING INTO TUESDAY, RAIN WILL REALLY SETTLE INTO THE VALLEY. THIS IS WHAT YOUR TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE MIGHT LOOK LIKE. YEAH, WE HAVE SCATTERED SHOWERS, PERIODS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL, SCATTERED SHOWERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH YOUR TUESDAY EVENING. BY THEN, RAIN WILL BECOME HEAVY FOR THE FOOTHILLS. AND AS YOU CAN TELL IN THE SIERRA, DOESN’T REALLY TURN INTO MUCH SNOW BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY WARM RAIN MOVING IN FROM THE TROPICS, SO IT WON’T BE AS READY TO TURN INTO SNOW. A FEW SHOWERS WILL LINGER INTO FIRST HALF OF YOUR WEDNESDAY. BY THEN WE’LL BE DRY AND GETTING READY FOR A NICE REST OF THE WEEK. BUT TUESDAY IS A WEATHER IMPACT DAY FOR STEADY RAIN. WET SNOW ABOVE 6500FT, MAYBE EVEN ABOVE 7000FT. AND THE WINDS, NOT AN ISSUE MIGHT BE BREEZY AT TIMES. AT LEAST WE’RE NOT EXPECTING ANY THUNDERSTORMS. HOW MUCH RAIN ARE WE EXPECTING FROM TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY, UP TO A HALF INCH OF RAIN IN THE VALLEY, ONE AND A HALF IN THE FOOTHILLS AND THE COASTAL HILLS AND THE SIERRA. MAINLY RAIN AGAIN, THAT SNOW LEVEL STAYING PRETTY HIGH. IN FACT, IT’S GOING TO CLIMB THROUGH THE PROGRESSION OF THE STORM UP TO 10,000FT. SO MAINLY RAIN, ABOUT 2.5IN AND TEMPERATURES AREN’T GOING TO BE AS BRUTAL AS THEY WERE WITH THE LAST STORM. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP IT AT NORMAL OR ABOVE. IN FACT, BY THE END OF YOUR SEVEN DAY FORECAST WILL BE FLIRTING WITH THE 70S THAT IS ON FRIDAY. SATURDAY WILL BE A NICE DAY AS WELL, BUT WE’RE LOOKING AT THE RETURN OF SHOWERS BY THE END OF NEXT WEEKEND, SO WE DO HAVE A FEW SHOWERS THAT ARE MOVING IN. AT LEAST WE GET THESE NICE
Northern California storm forecast: A warmer storm system will bring widespread rain on Tuesday
A warmer storm system will bring widespread rain back to Northern California on Tuesday, marking the next KCRA 3 Weather Impact Day.
Updated: 8:24 PM PST Feb 22, 2026
A warmer storm system will bring widespread rain back to Northern California on Tuesday, marking the next KCRA 3 Weather Impact Day.This system will tap into and funnel tropical moisture into the region. Because of its warm origin, most of the precipitation will fall as rain, with little to no snow expected in the Sierra.Below is a breakdown of what the KCRA 3 weather team is expecting:RainA few showers may develop along the coastal range on Monday, but steadier rain is expected to arrive by the afternoon, reaching the Valley later in the evening.Rain will become widespread overnight into Tuesday, with periods of light to moderate rainfall continuing through the afternoon and evening.Showers will intensify as the system pushes into the foothills and Sierra Tuesday afternoon and evening.Rain will taper off late Tuesday, though a few lingering showers, especially over higher terrain, may persist into Wednesday morning.Valley: 0.25 to 0.50 inches of rainFoothills: Up to 1.5 inchesSierra: Primarily rain, with totals up to 2.5 inchesSnowLittle to no snow is expected with this system due to its warm, tropical moisture source.Snow levels will start around 6,500 feet and rise to near 10,000 feet as the storm progresses.The highest peaks could see 1 to 3 inches of snow, but for most of the Sierra, Tuesday will be a rainy day.WindBreezy conditions are expected at times Tuesday, with the strongest winds in the Sierra.Mountain areas can expect sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph.Winds will be lighter and less impactful in the foothills and lower elevations.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A warmer storm system will bring widespread rain back to Northern California on Tuesday, marking the next KCRA 3 Weather Impact Day.
This system will tap into and funnel tropical moisture into the region. Because of its warm origin, most of the precipitation will fall as rain, with little to no snow expected in the Sierra.
Below is a breakdown of what the KCRA 3 weather team is expecting:
Rain
A few showers may develop along the coastal range on Monday, but steadier rain is expected to arrive by the afternoon, reaching the Valley later in the evening.
Rain will become widespread overnight into Tuesday, with periods of light to moderate rainfall continuing through the afternoon and evening.
Showers will intensify as the system pushes into the foothills and Sierra Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Rain will taper off late Tuesday, though a few lingering showers, especially over higher terrain, may persist into Wednesday morning.
Valley: 0.25 to 0.50 inches of rain
Foothills: Up to 1.5 inches
Sierra: Primarily rain, with totals up to 2.5 inches
Snow
Little to no snow is expected with this system due to its warm, tropical moisture source.
Snow levels will start around 6,500 feet and rise to near 10,000 feet as the storm progresses.
The highest peaks could see 1 to 3 inches of snow, but for most of the Sierra, Tuesday will be a rainy day.
Wind
Breezy conditions are expected at times Tuesday, with the strongest winds in the Sierra.
Mountain areas can expect sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph.
Winds will be lighter and less impactful in the foothills and lower elevations.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel