-May 6,2022-
NWS Sacramento says to expect a series of storms and cool weather though mid month despite what the calendar says.May is not usually cool and unsettled and heat is more often the order of the day.
Today’s storm will bring snow down to the Sonora Pass and drop over foot of snow on Lassen Peak. Here is what they say short and long term as of May 6.The pattern is a pleasant surprise in drought-plagued northern California.
Pattern change is well underway with the big cool down that began
Thursday with the initial short-wave brushing across far northern
California.
Next short-wave moves in later today and tonight. Ahead of it, a
cold front will push south again this afternoon. Moisture will be pretty
limited behind the front, but increasing forcing with the approach
of the short-wave will lead to scattered showers across the
northern mountains later this afternoon into this evening, with a
few showers possible in the northern Sacramento Valley and
northern Sierra. Enough instability is also present for a few
thunderstorms across Shasta County into this evening.
A relative break in the weather is expected Saturday, then the
main upper trough is forecast to settle in across the region
early next week leading to several days of more widespread shower
and thunderstorm activity along with even cooler temperatures.
It`s a little early to pin down the finer details, but ensembles
have been trending toward potential for impactful snowfall across
the northern Sierra Sunday afternoon and evening.
.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Tuesday THROUGH Friday)…
Long wave trough off the West Coast with embedded short wave
Tuesday brings a threat of showers to much of the CWA. Lingering
mountain showers possible over the Sierra Nevada Wednesday.
Another short wave trough progged across northern portions of the
forecast area Thursday. Drier weather expected Friday with some
breezy north to east wind as EPAC upper ridging builds inland.
Below normal high temperatures expected Tuesday through Thursday,
then warming to slightly above normal Friday.