Northern California forecast: A cooler weekend ahead with isolated mountain storms
Friday is off to a cloudier start across the valley, with a developing onshore breeze.
I’M NOT GOING TO PUT A FROWN ON YOUR FACE WITH THE FORECAST FOR ALL THOSE EVENTS THAT YOU JUST LISTED. ANYTHING OUTDOORS IS GOOD TO GO. IN THE VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS. HERE IS MY SUBTITLE HERE. THE SIERRA COULD SEE SOME CHANGEABLE WEATHER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE HERE WITH CLOUDS UP AND OVER THE HIGH COUNTRY. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE IN THE 20S IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. AT THE AIRPORT IT’S 27 DEGREES, WAKING UP IN THE LOWER 50S WITH AGAIN, A SPREAD OF CLOUDS OVER THE VALLEY. NOW THE CLOUDS, ARE WE SEEING ANY RAIN? WHILE I’VE CUED UP RADAR HERE? AND AGAIN, YOU’VE GOT A DRY SWEEP HERE IN THE VALLEY, BUT YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS BLOSSOMING JUST OFF THE COAST. IT’S ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BIGGER WEATHER SYSTEM THAT’S OFFSHORE, WHICH WILL AGAIN PROMPT POTENTIALLY SOME OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO IGNITE TODAY IN THE SIERRA. AGAIN, I THINK IT’S GOING TO SKIP ACROSS THE VALLEY, BUT THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS IN THESE AREAS, HIGHLIGHTED IN THE SHADE OF LIGHT GREEN, WHICH GIVES YOU AN IDEA. YEAH, THE WHOLE TRUCKEE AND TAHOE BASIN IS PRETTY MUCH A BULL’S EYE, ESPECIALLY ANY TIME AFTER LUNCHTIME ALL THE WAY THROUGH SUNSET. TONIGHT WE CAN PLAN FOR POTENTIAL FOR SOME DOWNPOURS, SOME LIGHTNING, AND EVEN SOME HAIL. AND AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE IN THE GREEN AREA, IF YOUR COUNTY’S IN IT, SUCH AS PLUMAS COUNTY OR SIERRA COUNTY, YOU’RE NOT GUARANTEED TO GET A THUNDERSTORM, BUT YOU JUST HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT IT THAN, LET’S SAY, OTHER AREAS ACROSS THE VALLEY OR THE FOOTHILLS. FORECAST WITH FUTURECAST. HERE’S THAT SYSTEM JUST OFF THE COAST NOW CONTINUES TO GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO US DURING THE DAY, SATURDAY AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. NOT ONLY IS IT GOING TO UNLOCK SOME COOLER AIR HERE FOR THE VALLEY AND DROP OUR TEMPERATURES, BUT IT’S ALSO GOING TO INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY TOMORROW IN THE SIERRA. AND ALSO YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF PINK AND WHITE THERE. THAT’S AN INDICATION FOR MAYBE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW SNOW SHOWERS. I JUST DON’T THINK IT’S GOING TO BE ANYTHING HIGHLY IMPACTFUL. BUT CERTAINLY YOU’LL BE IMPACTED IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO DO ANYTHING OUTDOORS THE NEXT COUPLE OF AFTERNOONS IN THE SIERRA. I’VE NOTED THAT FOR YOU. HERE’S FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, POTENTIALLY A LEFTOVER SHOWER ON MONDAY. NOW THE FOOTHILLS WILL JUST SEE SOME CLOUD COVER AND A LITTLE DROP IN TEMPERATURES THERE. AS WE BACK DOWN TO THE LOW 60S FOR THE WEEKEND. NOW HERE IN THE VALLEY, WE’RE TALKING LOW 70S TODAY, UPP
Northern California forecast: A cooler weekend ahead with isolated mountain storms
Friday is off to a cloudier start across the valley, with a developing onshore breeze.
Updated: 7:44 AM PDT Apr 24, 2026
Friday is off to a cloudier start across the Valley, with a developing onshore breeze.
While the Valley will remain dry Friday and this weekend, the Sierra is expected to get a few showers and isolated thunderstorms as weak disturbances work through the region.
Friday Forecast
In the Valley, winds will increase a bit, helping bring in some additional cooling.
High temperatures will trend down from Thursday but are still expected to reach the low 70s across the valley, which is just under seasonal for this time of year.
Weekend outlook
This cooling trend will continue into the weekend. Valley highs are expected to slip back into the upper 60s under continued cloud cover. The onshore flow will pick up to breezes in the afternoon.
Thunderstorm outlook
The Sierra remains in a more unsettled pattern. Several rounds of showers are expected in the mountains, and a few isolated thunderstorms will also be possible.
Some snow is likely at the higher elevations, but snowfall amounts are not expected to be significant enough to create major travel or weather impacts.
Foothills & Sierra 7-day forecast
Looking ahead to next week, this mild spring weather pattern of clouds, breezes and modest rain chances will take us through the rest of this month.
Valley 7-day forecast
The valley will mostly likely stay dry with temperatures climbing back to seasonal normals.