Some much needed rain and snow arrived in Northern California on Thursday. KCRA 3’s weather team is calling Thursday a Weather Impact Day for the travel impacts in the Sierra, with chain controls in effect for portions of Interstate 80 and Highway 50. The past few weeks have been mostly dry, and this weather system could bring several feet of snow to the Sierra and some much-needed moisture to prevent the vegetation from drying out. Send us your storm videos at kcra.com/upload. (Video above: Storm coverage starting Thursday at 9 a.m.) Scroll down to see the latest forecast from our weather team, interactive Doppler radar and a real-time traffic map for the Sacramento area and other parts of Northern California. Here are the latest updates. Here are the latest updates you should know about 9:26: Highway 50 chains are now required from Fred’s Place to Meyers. 8:37 a.m.: Sierra snow levels are starting to drop and rain conditions in the valley will remain active throughout the morning, meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn says. See the latest weather forecast below. 8:01 a.m.: The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued an avalanche warning through Friday morning for the central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass to the north and Ebbetts Pass to the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. “Feet of new snow and strong winds will overload an already weak snowpack and result in very dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains,” the warning said. “Avalanche activity can be widespread, and some avalanches can be large and destructive. Avalanches can be triggered from flatter areas below, above and to the sides of steep slopes.” 7:59 AM: Another chain check update. 7:29 a.m.: All Tahoe Truckee Unified School District schools are closed due to a snow day. 7:28 a.m.: Here’s a look at possible rain and snow totals we can expect based on our weather team’s outlook as of this morning. 6:46 a.m.: Those traveling to the Sierra can check the latest highway conditions here. Caltrans says this about I-80: Chain controls are in effect from 2 miles east of Baxter in Placer County to Truckee. Eastbound trucks are screened at Applegate. Westbound trucks are screened 5 miles west of Reno. Caltrans says this about Highway 50: Chains are required from Twin Bridges to Meyers in El Dorado County. Here’s what you need to know about the weather forecast. Rain in the Sacramento Valley The latest models have the rain moving through a little faster, so the morning commute will be windy and wet, with rain continuing through midday with clearing in the afternoon, according to our weather team. Northern California could see about half an inch to an inch of rain in some valley locations like Sacramento on Thursday. Elsewhere around Modesto could see a quarter-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain. By late Thursday morning and into the midday hours, the rain is expected to shift south and taper off for the valley, although the snow will linger — and snow levels may even drop during that time. The combination of wind Thursday morning and rain will bring down leaves across the region that could back up some storm runoff. Video below: Sacramento crews clear leaves from street in preparation for rainSierra snow Snow is expected most of the day in the Sierra above 5,000 feet, with accumulations of 2 feet possible at higher elevations on Thursday. Ski areas can be within 3 feet of range. Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn says most of the snow will be above 3,000 feet. Looking Ahead Thursday night and into Friday the rain and snow will be gone, but we may get some fog Friday morning. Northern California will get a break from the rain on Friday before the rain starts to develop again on Saturday and continue into Sunday. But occasional rain and snow over the weekend at this point is still hard to time out, our weather team says. Warming centers in Sacramento open Sacramento County will open an alert center at the DHA 28th Street Annex from 19.00 to 7.00 from Wednesday until at least next week. It is located at 1725 28th St. in downtown Sacramento. Learn more in the video player below. Track real-time traffic updates here (App users, click here to see our interactive traffic map.) Track Northern California Doppler radar here (App users, click here to see our interactive radar map.) Download our app for the latest Here where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts. Follow our KCRA weather team on social media Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Eileen Javora on FacebookMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/climate reporter Heather Waldman on our Facebook and Twitters on TV or onlineHere you can find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a live stream of our latest news broadcast here. The banner on our website turns red when we are live. We also stream on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
Some much needed rain and snow arrived in Northern California on Thursday. KCRA 3’s weather team is calling Thursday a Weather Impact Day for the travel impacts in the Sierra, with chain controls in effect for portions of Interstate 80 and Highway 50.
The last few weeks have been mostly dry and this weather system could bring several feet of snow to the Sierra and some much needed moisture to keep the vegetation from drying out. Send us your storm videos at kcra.com/upload.
(Video above: Storm coverage from Thursday at 9:00 a.m)
Scroll down to see the latest forecast from our weather team, interactive Doppler radar and a real-time traffic map for the Sacramento area and other parts of Northern California. Here are the latest updates.
Here are the latest updates you should know about
9:26 a.m.: Highway 50 chains are now required from Fred’s Place to Meyers.
This content was imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may be able to find more information on their website.
8:37 a.m.: Sierra snow levels are starting to drop and rain conditions in the valley will remain active throughout the morning, meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn said. See the latest weather forecast below.
8:01 a.m.: The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued an avalanche warning through Friday morning for the central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass to the north and Ebbetts Pass to the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area.
“Feet of new snow and strong winds will overload an already weak snowpack and result in very dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains,” the warning said. “Avalanche activity can be widespread, and some avalanches can be large and destructive. Avalanches can be triggered from flatter areas below, above and to the sides of steep slopes.”
This content was imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may be able to find more information on their website.
8:00 a.m.: Heavenly says gusty winds will affect some operations.
This content was imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may be able to find more information on their website.
7:59 a.m.: Another chain control update.
This content was imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may be able to find more information on their website.
7:29 a.m.: All Tahoe Truckee Unified School District schools are closed due to a snow day.
7:28: Here’s a look at possible rain and snow totals we can expect based on our weather team’s outlook as of this morning.
6:46 a.m: Those traveling to the Sierra can check the latest highway conditions here.
Caltrans says this about I-80: Chain controls are in effect from 2 miles east of Baxter in Placer County to Truckee. Eastbound trucks are screened at Applegate. Westbound trucks are screened 5 miles west of Reno.
Caltrans says this about Highway 50: Chains are required from Twin Bridges to Meyers in El Dorado County.
This content was imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may be able to find more information on their website.
Here’s what you need to know about the weather forecast.
Rain in the Sacramento Valley
The latest models have rain moving through a little faster, so the morning commute will be windy and wet, with rain continuing through midday with clearing in the afternoon, according to our weather team.
Northern California could see about half an inch to an inch of rain in some valley locations like Sacramento on Thursday. Elsewhere around Modesto could see a quarter-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain.
By late Thursday morning and into the midday hours, the rain is expected to shift south and taper off for the valley, although the snow will linger — and snow levels may even drop during that time.
The combination of wind Thursday morning and rain will bring down leaves across the region that could back up some storm runoff.
Video below: Sacramento crews clear leaves from street in preparation for rain
Sierra snow
Snow is expected most of the day in the Sierra above 5,000 feet, with accumulations of 2 feet possible at higher elevations on Thursday. Ski areas can be within 3 feet of range.
Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn says most of the snow will be above 3,000 feet.
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Chain controls affecting Sierra travel are also expected Thursday and early Friday. Click here to view Caltrans’ QuickMap for traffic conditions. Click here to search conditions by motorway.
Snow levels will drop to about 4,000 feet during the day, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches.
Chances of light snow down to 2,500 feet Thursday night into Friday morning.
With more snow in the Sierra Saturday night into Sunday, there could be travel issues then.
Video below: Truckee residents stock up ahead of Sierra storm
Look forward to
Thursday night and into Friday the rain and snow will be gone, but we may get some fog Friday morning.
Northern California will get a break from the rain on Friday before rain begins to develop again on Saturday and continue into Sunday.
But occasional rain and snow over the weekend at this point is still hard to time out, says our weather team.
Warming centers in Sacramento open
Sacramento County will open an alert center at the DHA 28th Street Annex from 19.00 to 7.00 from Wednesday until at least next week. It is located at 1725 28th St. in downtown Sacramento. Learn more in the video player below.
Track real-time traffic updates here
(App users, click here to see our interactive traffic map.)
Follow Northern California Doppler radar here
(App users, click here to see our interactive radar map.)
Download our app for the latest
Here you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here you can find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a live stream of our latest news broadcast here. The banner on our website turns red when we are live.
We also stream on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
