Northern California forecast: Bright and breezy Thursday
KCRA, sacramento, forecast, weather, northern california
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, TEMPERATURES ARE DIALING DOWN AND THEY’RE GOING TO GO DOWN EVEN A BIT MORE, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE NIGHT TONIGHT. HERE’S A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE AS YOU LOOK IN STOCKTON YOU ALSO NOTICE THE FLAG THERE GETTING A NICE LITTLE WHISK UP THAT IS A NORTH BREEZE THAT WILL BE AROUND DURING THE DAY TODAY. TEMPERATURES SPREAD. WE’RE DROPPING OFF TO LOW 40S PRETTY QUICKLY IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO 45. IN STOCKTON IT’S 47 MODESTO. THE COOLER AIR IS GOING TO BE RAKING ACROSS THE VALLEY AND THE FOOTHILLS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. WE’RE DOWN TO 21 IN LAKE TAHOE, WHERE A COLD FRONT IS CLEARING THROUGH THE AREA, PROMPTING SOME OF THESE SNOW SHOWERS, WHICH FOR THE MOST PART ARE WINDING DOWN. I SEE SOME OF THE BETTER SNOW ACTIVITY, REALLY TO THE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 88, AND FOR AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 120. AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE WRAPPING UP AS WE GET CLOSER TO DAYBREAK TODAY, THE EIGHTH DAY OF JANUARY, MARKED WITH 57 DEGREES FOR THE FORECAST. HIGH NORMAL THIS TIME OF YEAR IS 55. SO WE’RE KIND OF IN THAT PLAYING FIELD. BUT TODAY WHAT’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’T BE AS STRONG TOMORROW. WE’RE LIKELY NOT GOING TO SEE FOG DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEN ONCE WE GET INTO SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY, AS THIS RIDGING BECOMES MORE PROMINENT AND THE WINDS REALLY RELAX, THAT’S WHEN WE COULD START TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOG, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO MONDAY. THIS RIDGE REALLY HOLDS FIRM EVEN INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, SO DOING ANYTHING OUTDOORS, YOU’RE GOING TO BE GUARANTEED A DRY FORECAST. BUT JUST KEEP IN MIND THOSE MORNINGS QUITE CHILLY. SOME FROST EXPECTED FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING IN THE FOOTHILLS. THE SIERRA TEMPERATURES ARE NOT GOING TO GET ABOVE FREEZING TODAY. AND THEN FOR THE VALLEY OUTLOOK
Northern California forecast: Bright and breezy Thursday
KCRA, sacramento, forecast, weather, northern california
Updated: 6:24 AM PST Jan 8, 2026
Skies will clear on Thursday in Northern California, and a north wind will blow in behind Wednesday’s unsettled weather.Showers are drying up in the Sierra on Thursday morning, but the day ahead will be very cold, with highs only in the upper 20s. Farther downhill, the day will also be cooler, with highs in the upper 40s in the Foothills and the mid to upper 50s in the Valley.Northerly winds will pick up — breezes of 10-15 mph, at times gusting up to 30 mph. Winds calm down overnight, and high pressure begins to build in for the weekend and the start of next week. The weekend will be mild and quiet, though morning fog and overcast will increase as a result of light winds and high pressure overhead. Highs both Saturday and Sunday will be in the low 50s.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook and X.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.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. —
Skies will clear on Thursday in Northern California, and a north wind will blow in behind Wednesday’s unsettled weather.
Showers are drying up in the Sierra on Thursday morning, but the day ahead will be very cold, with highs only in the upper 20s. Farther downhill, the day will also be cooler, with highs in the upper 40s in the Foothills and the mid to upper 50s in the Valley.
Northerly winds will pick up — breezes of 10-15 mph, at times gusting up to 30 mph. Winds calm down overnight, and high pressure begins to build in for the weekend and the start of next week.
The weekend will be mild and quiet, though morning fog and overcast will increase as a result of light winds and high pressure overhead. Highs both Saturday and Sunday will be in the low 50s.
REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP
Click here to see our interactive traffic map.
TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADAR
Click here to see our interactive radar.
DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATEST
Here is where you can download our app.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook and X.
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.
We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
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