{"id":244785,"date":"2026-03-31T09:04:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/244785\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:04:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:04:16","slug":"ca-weather-rain-thunder-and-mountain-snow-in-forecast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/244785\/","title":{"rendered":"CA weather: Rain, thunder and mountain snow in forecast"},"content":{"rendered":"

After several days of sunny skies and record-breaking heat<\/a>, rain is returning to California.<\/p>\n

As a new system moves through the Golden State<\/a> this week, it\u2019s expected to bring isolated thunderstorms, mountain snow, gusty winds and cooler temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n

The latest forecasts show rain<\/a> could spread across several parts of California, including Northern California, coastal areas and the Central Valley \u2014 with impacts expected in Sacramento<\/a>, Modesto<\/a>, Merced<\/a>, Fresno<\/a> and San Luis Obispo.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s when rain is forecast to arrive:<\/p>\n

\"Rain Rain clouds roll past the Sacramento skyline as seen from the Garden Highway near San Juan Road on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com When will thunderstorms drench California?<\/p>\n

Thunderstorms could begin moving into California as early as Tuesday, March 31, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n

Forecasters say moisture will push northward Tuesday morning by first bringing snow to higher elevations<\/a> in the Sierra Nevada before spreading into the foothills and the Central Valley as rain.<\/p>\n

This system could bring bursts of rainfall along with isolated thunderstorms<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rain chances have increased<\/a> in recent forecasts, with a 50% to 60% chance that Central Valley areas will receive at least a 10th of an inch over a 24-hour period ending Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a 30% to 40% chance of a quarter-inch of rain in parts of the eastern valley.<\/p>\n

Some areas of Northern California could see up to an inch<\/a> of rain, while showers \u201cwill be very light\u201d<\/a> along coastal regions and Southern California, with about a 10th of an inch pf precipitation or less.<\/p>\n

How much snow will fall across the Sierra Nevada?<\/p>\n

Snow is expected to return to the Sierra Nevada starting Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n

Snow is forecast<\/a> to hit elevations around 6,000 feet on Tuesday, gradually dropping to about 5,500 feet by Wednesday. Snow levels could reach to elevations as low as 4,000 feet by Thursday, April 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeriods of light to locally moderate snow are expected,\u201d the National Weather Service said on X. \u201cThe heaviest snow accumulations are expected at the highest peaks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExact snowfall amounts\u201d and snow levels remain uncertain, but forecasters said snow levels in Northern California<\/a> are likely to stay above 4,000 feet overall.<\/p>\n

In South Lake Tahoe, snowfall is expected to begin<\/a> Tuesday, with wintry conditions continuing through Thursday.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in the forecast for Sacramento?<\/p>\n

Rain is returning to the forecast in Sacramento<\/a>, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n

Monday, March 31, is expected to be mostly cloudy, with a 10% chance of showers developing overnight<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The high temperature will reach around 83 degrees, with a low temperature near 58 degrees. Light winds will sweep through the region.<\/p>\n

Rain becomes more likely Tuesday, when there\u2019s a 50% chance of showers. Temperatures are expected to cool, with a high near 68 and a low around 53.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew precipitation amounts of less than a 10th of an inch (are) possible,\u201d the National Weather Service said.<\/p>\n

By Wednesday, rain chances increase to about 70%, with a high near 65 and a low around 48.<\/p>\n

Skies are expected to clear by Thursday, April 2, with clear, dry weather continuing through Easter Sunday on April 5.<\/p>\n

\"Rain Rain clouds roll over downtown Sacramento Friday morning, Oct. 8, 2021. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com When will Modesto see rain?<\/p>\n

Rain is expected to return<\/a> to Modesto on Tuesday, March 31, according to the latest seven-day weather forecast.<\/p>\n

There is a 60% chance of showers<\/a> on Tuesday, with a high near 72 and a low around 53. Rainfall totals are expected to remain light, with less than an inch of rain possible.<\/p>\n

Showers could continue into Wednesday, with a 50% chance of rain. Temperatures will reach a high near 71 and a low around 51.<\/p>\n

Skies are expected to clear in Modesto by Thursday, with dry weather lasting through Easter.<\/p>\n

Will it rain in Merced? How about Fresno?<\/p>\n

Rain is also expect across much of the Central Valley<\/a>, including Merced<\/a> and Fresno<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Showers are forecast to begin Tuesday in both cities and continue through Wednesday with a chance of thunderstorms, according to the latest forecasts.<\/p>\n

Will San Luis Obispo see rain?<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service said Southern California and Central Coast cities, including San Luis Obispo<\/a> and Paso Robles<\/a>, will see \u201ca slight chance to a chance of rain<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf rain does fall, confidence is high that any totals will be very light<\/a>,\u201d the weather agency said in a Monday, March 30, area forecast discussion.<\/p>\n

The San Luis Obispo area should stay \u201cpartly sunny\u201d through Monday, with a high near 79 and a low around 56, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n

Clouds will increase Tuesday, bringing a 40% chance of rain and cooler temperatures. The high will near 68 and the low will be around 53 degrees.<\/p>\n

Rain clouds will clear by Wednesday, April 1.<\/p>\n

Have a question about life in California?<\/p>\n

How to California \u2014 a guide to help you live, work and enjoy life in the Golden State, is here to help.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll answer your questions \u2014 big and small \u2014 about state laws, history, culture, recreation and travel.<\/p>\n

Ask your questions in the form below (can\u2019t see it? Click here<\/a>) or email howtocalifornia@mcclatchy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Angela Rodriguez<\/a><\/p>\n

The Modesto Bee<\/p>\n

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor\u2019s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After several days of sunny skies and record-breaking heat, rain is returning to California. As a new system…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":244786,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[36233,83570,121,123,122,83573,109599,109598],"class_list":{"0":"post-244785","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sacramento","8":"tag-central-valley-rain","9":"tag-forecast-sacramento","10":"tag-sacramento","11":"tag-sacramento-headlines","12":"tag-sacramento-news","13":"tag-sierra-nevada-snow","14":"tag-thunderstorm-chances","15":"tag-weather-forecast-modesto"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}