Clouds are blanketing northern California this morning and a band of precipitation is tracking into our northwest areas early today. This is the result of low pressure tracking into the Pacific Northwest, where an atmospheric river event will bring heavy rain. We'll just see the tail end of this system in our region. It's not a bad idea to have your umbrella handy as you head out the door, but moisture will be fairly limited from this wet system. The highest rain totals are expected to end up in the Northern Mountains, and the north end of the valley. Lighter rain amounts are expected across the Southern Cascades and Sierra today. Very limited light showers are possible in the mid valley and foothill areas in your Tuesday forecast. Snow levels will stay very high with this system, so mountain travel impacts are not expected to be an issue. Most of our region will have snow levels above 6000', but a few spots in the Southern Cascades may see snow levels dip to around 5500'. Temperatures are starting out in the mid 40's in the valley and foothills this morning, and in the 20's to lower 40's in our mountain areas. Winds will be out of the south from 10 to 15mph through the day, with the potential for gusts up to around 20mph in the northern valley. High temperatures are projected to top out in the low to mid 50's in the valley, in the mid 40's to mid 50's in the foothills, and in the low 40's to low 50's in the mountains this afternoon.

Another band of moisture is expected across our region very early on Wednesday, and will mostly impact our far northern zones. Little to no rainfall is expected in the mid valley, foothills, and Northern Sierra on Wednesday. Most of our region will dry out by mid day on Wednesday, and temperatures will end up 4 to 8 degrees warmer than Tuesday afternoon. Skies will be clearing out Wednesday night into Thursday, and temperatures will end up much warmer on Thursday afternoon. Valley areas will start out in the 40's and end up in the upper 50's to lower 60's on Thursday, while foothill areas top out in the mid 50's, and mountain areas end up back in the 40's to 50's. Another wet system passing through to our north will bring a very modest dip in temperatures and the potential for some far northern showers back into our forecast on Friday evening.

High pressure is projected to dominate our forecast this weekend, and that will result in dry weather and well above average temperatures. Valley areas can expect high tmeperatures in the upper 60's to lower 70's from Saturday through Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. We'll be in the 50's to mid 60's in the foothills during that same time, and mountain areas will end up in the 40's to 50's. Overnight low temperatures will also continue to be above average through your upcoming weekend.