680
FXUS66 KSTO 042050
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
1250 PM PST Wed Mar 4 2026

For additional details on weather and expected impacts over the
next 7 days, please visit weather.gov/sto/briefing.

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - A few lingering showers over the foothills and mountains into
   this evening

 - Gusty north to east winds Thursday through Saturday, strongest

 - Warming trend this weekend into early next week, with Valley
   highs in the 70s

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...Today...
A trough moving across the area will bring a few additional light
showers over the Sierra foothills and mountains into this
evening. Additional precipitation amounts are expected to be less
than 0.10 inches, mainly over the mountains. Otherwise, dry
conditions are expected across the area with Valley high
temperatures in the 60s.

...Thursday-Monday...
Trough moves into the Great Basin on Thursday as a ridge builds
over the eastern Pacific. This will lead to gusty north to east
winds Thursday through Saturday, with the strongest winds on
Friday. NBM probabilities of wind gusts greater than 40 mph sit
around 20-50% on Friday west of I-5 in the Sacramento Valley and
around 50-85% over the mountains. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph are
expected on Thursday and Friday, with higher gusts over the
mountains.

Dry and warmer weather is expected during this period as well,
with above-normal high temperatures this weekend and into early
next week. Afternoon high temperatures will reach into the 70s in
the Valley and foothills this weekend, with 50s and low 70s in the
mountains. NBM indicates a 55-85% chance of high temperatures
reaching 80 degrees across the northern Sacramento Valley.

&&

.AVIATION...
Predominantly VFR conditions expected to continue today through
Thursday. A few isolated -SHRA are possible in the foothills and
mountains through this evening (06Z Thursday), with -SHSN possible
above 5,000 ft AGL. Northerly surface winds in the Valley to 12
kt this afternoon and overnight, with gusts to around 20 kt at
times through early evening (02Z Thursday). Stronger winds arrive
after 17Z Thursday, to around 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$