Lots of sun Thursday... but a healthy Pacific storm will end that Friday.  A wet finish to the workweek!

Clouds will roll in Thursday night, and the rain will arrive Friday.  This storm is pulling in subtropical moisture ahead of it, so it's going to be juicy.  I'm expecting anywhere from 1/2" of rain to 1" in the Valley, with higher amounts in the foothills.  It should be rain for most of the storm in the foothills, too, as this subtropical moisture is warm.  Snow levels will start around 4000'.  By late Friday night, they'll drop to 2500', as the cold front plows through... but by that time, most of the moisture will have moved on.  Just a few snow showers below 3000'... most of the serious snow will fall above 4000'.  Chester could get 1 foot of fresh powder!  Moderately deep low pressure will approach the Oregon coast Friday, kicking up the gusty south winds.  Expect gusts to 35 mph in the Valley, with gusts over 40 mph in the normally windy Shasta Valley (Siskiyou county), and other exposed higher elevations.

The storm moves east Saturday, and we'll begin a stretch of very sunny weather.  But as surface high pressure builds into the Pacific Northwest, that will kick up a gusty north wind.  Expect gusts to 20 mph in the Valley Saturday... not that windy, but coupled with a cool day, it'll feel a bit raw, despite the sunshine.

Sunday is when the Spring-like weather starts.  Warm and sunny, and it should last for most of next week!

Enjoy next week's Spring preview... we'll deserve it after Friday's sloppy storm.

Kris