138
FXUS66 KSTO 161554
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
854 AM PDT Thu Apr 16 2026

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

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Gusty northerly winds through tonight, decreasing but remaining
   breezy on Friday

 - Dry weather late week into the weekend with near to slightly
   above normal temperatures

 - Storm system brings renewed precipitation chances in rain,
   mountain snow and thunderstorms late Sunday through early next
   week, along with cooler temperatures and breezy winds

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...Today through Saturday...
The upper level pattern features an upper trough moving to the
east with ridging moving in behind it. Gusty northerly winds are
being observed across interior northern California on the backside
of this trough. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph have been observed in
the Sacramento Valley and Delta, and the Wind Advisory remains in
effect until 11 PM PDT tonight. Winds will gradually decrease but
remain breezy through overnight and through the day on Friday. As
ridging moves into the area, dry weather and warmer temperatures
can be expected as we head into the weekend. Temperatures will
warm to near to slightly above normal for mid April climatology.
Forecast highs will be in the 70s to near 80 in the Valley, 60s
to 70s in the foothills, and 50s to 60s in the mountains for
Friday and Saturday.

...Sunday into Next Week...
Ensemble guidance indicates an upper low approaching the area
Sunday, bringing renewed precipitation conditions to interior
northern California through early next week. This storm will
bring along the potential for rain, mountain snow, isolated
thunderstorms, breezy winds and cooler temperatures. The latest
QPF/snow forecast has trended slightly lower, however confidence
is overall increasing in the pattern change to cooler, wetter
weather. Right now, areas north of US Highway 50, and higher
terrain in the Coast Range, Shasta County mountains, southern
Cascades and northern Sierra are favored to observe the majority
of precipitation. We will continue to monitor the need for any
products to address these impacts.

&&

.AVIATION...
General VFR conditions at TAF sites over the next 24 hours.
Northerly winds today will result in periodic gusts of 20-30 kts
in the Valley until around 18Z Friday. Periods of gusty northeast
to east wind gusts of 20-40 kts in the foothills and mountains
until 21Z Friday.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for Carquinez Strait
and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley-
Southern Sacramento Valley.

&&

$$