Get ready for very active weather to return to northern California today. Low pressure tracking into the Pacific Northwest will bring moderate to heavy rain, high elevation snow, and strong south winds to our region through the day. A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect from 10am this morning through 6pm Tuesday for portions of the Western Slopes of the Sierra above 6500'. Up to 2 feet of snow will be possible in this area through Wednesday night. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for the Eastern Slopes of the Sierra above 5500' from 1pm today through 6pm Wednesday. A Flash Flood Watch has now also been issued for areas surrounding the Claremont & Bear Fire burn scars from this morning through tonight. Heavy rain is expected in that area this afternoon and evening. There will be a decent chance for flash flooding and ash flows during that time. A High Wind Watch is already in effect for Modoc and Siskiyou Counties and will stay in effect through 7pm tonight. Gusts out of the south up to 80mph will be possible in those areas today. An additional High Wind Watch will be in effect from 9am this morning through 7pm tonight for areas of Lassen and Plumas Counties. South to southwest gusts up to 70mph will be possible in those areas during that time.
Temperatures are starting out in the 40's to 60's in the valley this morning, in the 40's to 50's in the foothills, and in the 30's to 50's in the mountains early today. Winds are out of the south to 10mph this morning, but will be picking up to around 25mph in the valley this afternoon. Gusts up to 35mph will be possible in the valley, while mountain and foothill areas have the potential for much stronger gusts this afternoon and evening. High temperatures will range from the 50's to lower 60's in the valley, and in the 40's to 50's in the foothills and mountains. Showers will move into the coastal areas just in time for your morning commute and will spread across our region through the day. Valley areas will mostly all have rain by early this afternoon, and then in the mid afteroon the Sierra and foothills will have rain picking up. Snow levels will be high today and are mostly projected to stay above 6000'.
More showers will move through on Wednesday, but they are not expected to be as substantial as Tuesday. Snow levels will fall to as low as 4500' by Tuesday afternoon, but that will also be when the showers are starting to taper off. Valley areas will have the potential for moderate showers and higher elevations will still have periods of heavier showers on Wednesday. Temperatures will be similar to Tuesday on Wednesday, but may end up slightly warmer for the afternoon. Showers will then linger in the mountains through mid day Thursday while the rest of our region becomes dry. Dry weather with average temperatures are then expected from Thursday afternoon through this upcoming weekend.