Northern California Storm Updates: Damaging winds, heavy rain and snow expected Sunday

Northern California Storm Updates: Damaging winds, heavy rain and snow expected Sunday

Our weather team is calling Sunday a weather Alert Day for the expected impacts of heavy rain, snow and strong winds.

Updated: 8:06 AM PST Feb 4, 2024

GOOD MORNING. I’M LETICIA ORDAZ. TODAY IS A WEATHER ALERT DAY. LOTS OF WET WEATHER IN OUR AREA RIGHT NOW, AND YOU’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT SACRAMENTO. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM IS BRINGING RAIN, WINDS AND SNOW INTO THE REGION THIS MORNING, WHICH IS WHY THIS IS A KCRA 3 ALERT DAY. WE ARE BRINGING YOU TEAM COVERAGE THIS MORNING, TRACKING THE SYSTEM AS IT HITS. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA METEOROLOGIST TAMARA BERG IS LIVE IN SACRAMENTO, GIVING US AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE ROAD CONDITIONS ON LIVE TRACKER THREE. BUT FIRST, LET’S GO TO METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN. HEATHER. YEAH LET’S SEE WE EXPECT YEAH. SO THE RAIN STARTED LATE LAST NIGHT. IT’S BEEN STEADY ALL MORNING LONG. IT WILL STAY STEADY THROUGH THE REST OF THIS MORNING BEFORE IT BECOMES MORE HIT AND MISS THIS AFTERNOON. AND WE WILL SEE SOME EMBEDDED WAVES OF HEAVIER RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME. WE’LL GO FROM NORTH TO SOUTH HERE. SO WE’RE STARTING UP NEAR WILLOWS CHICO IN THAT STEADY LIGHTRILLIONAIN. OROVILLE, KIND OF RIGHT ON THE FRINGE OF SOME VERY LIGHT RAIN AT THE MOMENT. BETTER RAINFALL RATES AS YOU HEAD FARTHER TO THE SOUTH ALONG ESPARTA PARTS OF THE HIGHWAY 505 CORRIDOR. PRETTY DRENCHED AT THE MOMENT. GENERALLY, THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY, A LITTLE BIT QUIETER, AT LEAST FOR THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY, BUT AROUND SACRAMENTO, GETTING BACK INTO SOME OF THAT STEADY MODERATE RAINFALL. WE HAVE SOME LIGHT PONDING ON SOME OF THE ROADS AROUND THE CITY. OTHERWISE NO ISSUES JUST YET. WE’LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT FEW HOURS. STOCKTON SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP IN THE RAIN, BUT SOME BETTER RAIN. RAIN AS YOU HEAD SOUTH INTO MODESTO. WE’LL BE WATCHING THAT BATCH OF RAIN MOVE UP FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO, BUT SO FAR, SINCE ABOUT MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT HERE ARE THE RAINFALL AMOUNTS ABOUT 4/10 OF AN INCH IN YUBA CITY ALREADY UP OVER HALF AN INCH IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. AND REMEMBER, WE’RE GOING TO KEEP ADDING TO THE RAIN AS WE GO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE BROAD VIEW OF OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM. YOU’RE LOOKING AT WATER VAPOR. SO SHOWING US WHERE THE MOISTURE FROM THIS ATMOSPHERIC RIVER IS BEST OF IT JUST TO OUR NORTH AND WEST. BUT THERE’S PLENTY TO GO AROUND AGAIN AS WE GO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. SO WE WILL EXPECT THE STEADY RAIN THROUGH THIS MORNING. HIT AND MISS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, SACRAMENTO LIKELY ADDS ANOTHER HALF AN INCH TO MAYBE SOME SPOTS A LITTLE OVER AN INCH. GENERALLY, OUR HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE NORTHERN END OF THE VALLEY FOOTHILLS COMMUNITIES. SIMILAR TOTALS TO WHAT WE’RE EXPECTING IN THE VALLEY. HALF AN INCH TO AN INCH BY THE END OF THE DAY. TODAY, THIS WILL BE ENOUGH FOR STREET FLOODING. WE’RE NOT EXPECTING ISSUES ON THE RIVERS, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME CREEKS THAT WILL BE WORTH WATCHING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON, BUT WE WANT TO SEND IT OUT TO METEOROLOGIST TAMARA BERG. SHE’S OUT IN LIVE TRACKER THREE HEADED NORTH. TAMARA, HOW’S IT LOOKING? YEAH. HEATHER, YOU TOLD US TO HEAD NORTH AND RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS JUST PRETTY MUCH WATERLOGGED. AS WE ARE DRIVING ALONG, LET ME SHOW YOU THAT PERSPECTIVE HERE IN LIVE TRACKER THREE AND MY PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE AND I, WE’RE GOING TO BE HEADING OUT ALONG 99 NORTH AND MOVING UP TOWARDS MARYSVILLE YUBA CITY AREA. BUT RIGHT NOW WE’RE JUST GOING OVER GARDEN HIGHWAY AND GOING ACROSS THE RIVER, WHICH YEAH, AS WE KNOW, THEY’VE BEEN LETTING OUT A LOT OF RELEASES. SO THE RIVER IS RUNNING PRETTY HIGH AT THIS POINT. AND THAT STEADY RAINFALL HAS BEEN COMING DOWN. AS HEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTING THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE MORNING. AS YOU LOOK AT THE ROAD CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, YEAH, YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT THERE ARE THERE’S A LOT OF WATER, A LOT OF PUDDLES OUT HERE, BUT I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY MAJOR ISSUES IN TERMS OF STANDING WATER. AS I TAKE YOU BACK OUT TO THE ROAD HERE AND AGAIN, WE’RE GOING TO BE GOING UP TO THE NORTH UP TOWARDS MARYSVILLE YUBA CITY AREA. AGAIN, NOT SEEING AS WELL A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT ON THE ROADWAYS. WHICH IS CERTAINLY A GOOD THING AS IT IS AN ALERT DAY AND IT’S JUST A BETTER DAY, ESPECIALLY BEING THAT IT IS A SUNDAY, UH, TO MAYBE JUST STAY INDOORS AND LET THIS STORM ROLL THROUGH AS HEATHER HAS BEEN POINTING OUT, WE’RE GOING TO BE SEEING MUCH MORE ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. AND EVENTUALLY, AS WE GET INTO THE AFTERNOON, THERE IS THAT CHANCE WE COULD SEE SOME THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP LATER ON. AND ALSO THOSE WINDS ARE GOING TO BE STRENGTHENING AS THE DAY STARTS TO PROGRESS. BUT WE’LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THESE ROAD CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. BUT FOR NOW, I’LL SEND IT OUT TO LETICIA BACK IN THE STUDIO. LETICIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. TAMARA. FROM YOUR VIEW FROM LIVE TRACKER THREE. WE’LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU. PG&E SAYS IT IS EXPECTING SOME HOMES TO LOSE POWER DUE TO THE STORM, AND WE’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT THAT OUTAGE MAP RIGHT NOW. THE AGENCY SAYS THE MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN. ARE THE SIERRA AND FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH PARTS OF SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN COUNTIES. PG&E SAYS THERE ADEQUATELY STAFFED TO HANDLE WHATEVER COMES. IF NECESSARY. WELL, WE WILL BRING IN CREWS FROM OTHER AREAS TO HELP LOCAL CREWS IN THE MOST IMPACTED AREAS. THAT WAY WE CAN GET POWER BACK ON MORE QUICKLY. PG&E IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE FORECAST TODAY AND INTO TOMORROW, SO THEY CAN BETTER PREDICT WHICH AREAS WILL HAVE OUTAGES. US IN SACRAMENTO, SMUD SAYS. THEY HAVE INCREASED RESOURCES AND THEY’RE ALSO BRACING FOR ANY POWER OUTAGES. YOU’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT THAT SMUD OUTAGE MAP RIGHT NOW. AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO ACTIVE OUTAGES. A UTILITY COMPANY RECOMMENDS THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS CHECK THE OUTAGE MAP THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO SEE THE CAUSE, AND ALSO WHEN THAT OUTAGE MIGHT BE RESTORED. WE HAVE MORE STAFF, WE HAVE MORE MATERIALS ON HAND, OUR LOGISTICS TEAMS ARE REALLY WORKING HARD TO PREPARE FOR ANY POTENTIAL OUTAGES WHEN IT COMES TO RESTORATION PRIORITIES. ANYTHING THAT POSES A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT IS NUMBER ONE. LET’S GET A CHECK WITH METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN AGAIN AND HEATHER, HOW INTENSE WILL THE WINDS BE TODAY? YEAH. AND FOR THOSE WAKING UP AND THINKING WHAT WIND. IT’S NOT WINDY. NO. THIS MORNING IS GOING TO BE RELATIVELY QUIET, ESPECIALLY FROM SACRAMENTO AND AREAS TO THE NORTH. WINDS RIGHT NOW ARE PRETTY ISOLATED AS WE GET INTO THIS AFTERNOON AND ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING, WHERE OUR FOOTHILLS, COMMUNITIES AND AREAS IN THE EAST SIDE OF BOTH THE SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COULD BE SEEING THOSE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50MPH. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES AND TREE ISSUES AS WELL. STRONGEST WINDS I’VE SEEN SO FAR TODAY RIGHT IN THE NAPA AREA, CONSISTENTLY GUSTING OVER 40MPH FOR THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. EAST BAY LOCATIONS GUSTING ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 30MPH. STARTING TO NOTICE A BIT OF A BREEZE INTO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. STOCKTON RIGHT NOW GUSTING TO 26MPH. GUSTS OVER 30 IN MODESTO KNIGHT’S FERRY, GUSTING TO ABOUT 25MPH AROUND SACRAMENTO. AGAIN, NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF WIND AT ALL JUST YET. IT’S JUST THE RAIN FOR THE TIME BEING. BUT WIND WILL PICK UP HERE, I’D SAY AFTER NOON TODAY. A LITTLE BIT BREEZY AT THE AIRPORT AND PLACERVILLE GUSTS TO 31MPH AT THIS HOUR AND UP INTO THE FOOTHILLS AROUND COLFAX, AUBURN AGAIN. GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS FOR THE TIME BEING. THAT WILL BE CHANGING AS WE GO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. AGAIN, A LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. THIS IS OUR STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPING. I’VE ADDED THE WIND ARROWS ON HERE SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHERE THE CENTER OF THAT STORM IS. THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE MOVING CLOSER TO THE COAST AS IT DOES SO. WE’LL SEE THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERLY BREEZE START TO INTENSIFY. AND THAT’S WHERE WE SEE THAT THREAT FOR THE WIND REALLY PICKING UP AGAIN FOR THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY AND INTO THE FOOTHILLS. SO WHEN WE HAVE WINDS OVER 50MPH, WHICH THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT COULD SEE POTENTIAL GUSTS OF THAT STRENGTH FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL HOURS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. WE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT POWER OUTAGES, DOWNED TREES AND AGAIN, IF ANYTHING IS IN THE YARD, THAT WILL EASILY GET BLOWN AROUND. SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE QUIET MORNING. IF YOUR DEVICES ARE NOT CHARGED YET, IT’S A GOOD TIME TO PLUG THEM IN. LATISHA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. HEATHER AND CALLAWAY SAYS AREAS ALONG THE COAST AND IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL BE THE MOST IMPACTED. THE STATE OPERATIONS CENTER IS NOW OPERATING 24 HOURS TO RESPOND AS NEEDED. THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IS MONITORING FLOOD RISKS ACROSS THE STATE AND HAS SANDBAGS PRE-POSITIONED IN 64 LOCATIONS. INS OFFICIALS HAD THIS MESSAGE FOR THOSE LIVING IN OUR REGION. IF YOU ARE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY OR THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY, YOU MAY NOTICE THAT OUR FLOOD SYSTEMS BECOME ACTIVATED. WHAT’S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR FROM LAST YEAR IS WE DO HAVE FULL RESERVOIRS, AND THOSE RESERVOIRS HAVE ALREADY STARTED RELEASING FLOOD WATER TO MAKE SPACE FOR INCOMING INFLOWS. SO YOU WILL SEE FLOOD BYPASSES START TO ACTIVATE. THAT IS THE SYSTEM WORKING AS INTENDED? CALTRANS SAYS THEY ARE READY TO RESPOND TO. CALTRANS IS ALSO ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO TRAVEL UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. IF YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE STORM EVENT, PLEASE STAY HOME, STAY SAFE, POSTPONE YOUR NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL UNTIL AFTER THE STORM PASSES. KILAUEA S ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY. ALERTS. JUST GO TO THE WEBSITE ON YOUR SCREEN CAL ALERTS.ORG. THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM IS FOR ALL 58 COUNTIES, AND IT CAN BE FOUND THERE. THEN YOU SIMPLY OPT IN TO GET YOUR ALERTS FOR YOUR COUNTY AND THEN IN THE SIERRA, SNOW IS ALREADY HITTING THE AREA. THIS MORNING WITH MORE ON THE WAY TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE A LOOK AT I-80 IN KINGVALE, BUT FIRST WE’RE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN AND HEATHER. HOW MUCH SNOW COULD WE SEE TODAY? WELL, THE SNOW IS ALREADY STARTED, SO FOR ANYBODY THINKING THEY WERE GOING TO TRY AND SNEAK UP OVER THE HILL EARLY THIS MORNING, THAT TIME HAS ALREADY PASSED. WE ALREADY HAVE CHAIN CONTROLS UP FOR 80, 50 AND 88 AS WELL. ALSO A CLOSURE FOR A STRETCH OF 88. WE’LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND. THEY’RE DOING SOME AVALANCHE CONTROL. BUT LOOK AT THIS SNOW FALLING STEADILY. I WANT TO SHOW YOU A LIVE LOOK. THIS IS DONNER SUMMIT. OVER THE LAST FEW SECONDS, THE ROAD JUST ABOUT COVERED AT THIS POINT. OF COURSE, THAT’S WHY WE HAVE THE CHAIN CAN CONTROL VISIBILITY IS OKAY OVER THE SUMMIT FOR THE MOMENT. THIS AFTERNOON THE SNOW IS GOING TO INTENSIFY QUITE A BIT. AND WE’RE GOING TO ADD IN SOME STRONG WINDS UP OVER THE CREST THAT’S GOING TO CREATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF TODAY AND INTO TONIGHT. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE REALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO, TO BE UP THERE OR IF YOU’RE ALREADY UP THERE, IT’S A GOOD DAY TO KIND OF HUNKER DOWN AND WAIT THINGS OUT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SNOW LEVELS AS INTERSTATE 80 SNOW LINE RIGHT AT BLUE CANYON. WE’VE PICKED UP A FEW INCHES OF SNOW IN BLUE CANYON SO FAR THIS MORNING. DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 50. IT’S JUST PLAIN RAIN AND FRESH POND POLLOCK PINES ALSO RAIN. BUT YOU HAD JUST A FEW MILES EAST OF RIVERTON. THAT’S WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO PICK UP THE SNOW. WE HAVE CHAIN CONTROLS STARTING IN KYBURZ ALONG HIGHWAY 50 AND ALONG HIGHWAY 88. OMO RANCH ROAD, RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THAT RAIN CHANGES OVER TO SOME OF THAT SNOW. SO HERE’S A LOOK AT. TRAVEL CONDITIONS FOR 80, 50 AND 88. THIS IS AS OF THE LAST HOUR OR SO. WE HAVE CHAIN CONTROL ON 80 FROM BAXTER TO THE NEVADA STATE LINE. HIGHWAY 50 CHAIN CONTROL FROM KYBURZ TO MYERS 88. WE HAVE THAT CLOSURE AGAIN. FOR AVALANCHE CONTROL FROM SILVER LAKE OVER TO KIRKWOOD. YOU CAN STILL GET THROUGH IN ALPINE AND AMADOR COUNTY,BUT YOU WILL NEED YOUR CHAINS TRAVELING THROUGH THAT AREA LATER TODAY. THE POTENTIAL FOR CLOSURES SO LETICIA, WE’RE ASKING PEOPLE AGAIN IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GET A FULL TANK OF GAS, MAKE SURE YOU GOT SOME EXTRA WATER. AND IF THEY DO, CLOSE THE HIGHWAY, DO NOT TRY TO FIND A WAY AROUND ON THE SIDE STREETS BACK TO YOU. GREAT ADVICE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH HEATHER. FOLLOW THE STORM WITH THE KCRA 3 APP. YOU CAN USE THE INTERACTIVE RADAR TOOL TO GET HOUR BY HOUR FORECAST F

Northern California Storm Updates: Damaging winds, heavy rain and snow expected Sunday

Our weather team is calling Sunday a weather Alert Day for the expected impacts of heavy rain, snow and strong winds.

Updated: 8:06 AM PST Feb 4, 2024

Our weather team is calling Sunday an Alert Day because of the expected impacts from a strong storm, which has plenty of moisture thanks to an atmospheric river. Sunday’s winds will be the strongest we have seen in Northern California this season and could cause power outages across the region.Rain began before sunrise throughout the region on Sunday. Strong winds will spread northward this afternoon.(Watch our live newscast coverage in the video below through 8:30 a.m. We will also have live updates every half hour through 3 p.m. starting at 9:30 a.m. See real-time updates on storm impacts and road conditions further below.) Here is a closer look at the forecast. Rain: Rain will be steady for the whole Valley and will be heavy by late morning. Valley totals will be around one and a half to two inches – enough for some street flooding and rises on smaller creeks.As of now, river flooding is not expected. The Cosumnes River will come up at Michigan Bar, but not enough to cause problems.Wind: The location of the strongest winds will shift through the day Sunday. Gusts of 40 mph are expected in the San Joaquin Valley Sunday morning. By midday, the area of strong winds will spread north into Sacramento and east into the Foothills. Gusts of 50 mph or more are possible throughout the Foothills as well as the east side of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley. Winds will be less intense on the west side of the Valley.Winds may be in the range of 40-50 mph in Sacramento for several hours. 50+ mph winds will persist longer in the Foothills – likely most of the day.Winds of this strength can cause power outages as well as limb and tree damage.The wind will slowly back off on Sunday evening. Sunday night will be breezy, but the damaging wind threat will be over. Snow: Steady snow began impacting Sierra travel before sunrise Sunday. Snow will continue without breaks all day and into Sunday night. Snowfall rates over 2 inches per hour are possible. That combined with strong winds will create whiteout conditions from midday Sunday through Monday morning. Two to three feet of snow is still the expectation for the passes. Road closures are possible. Wind will be less intense on Monday, but steady snow will continue to create difficult travel above 5,000 feet.Meanwhile, Southern California is also expecting significant impacts from the storm this weekend. Looking ahead, Monday will be breezy with occasional rain. Here are live updates on the winter storm in California8:05 a.m.: Tamara Berg reports from LiveTracker 3 that there have been some spinouts on the Yolo Causeway. She hasn’t seen the roadway flooding that was reported on CHP online logs. 7:50 a.m.: A crash has been reported on southbound Interstate 5 at Sutterville Road in Sacramento, according to CHP online logs. 7:50 a.m.: There is roadway flooding westbound on the Yolo Causeway, according to CHP online logs. 7:41 a.m.: Here’s another update on chain controls. 7:38 a.m.: Here’s a look at the timing of rain and snow in Northern California.7:30 a.m.: Meteorologist Heather Waldman says if you haven’t already traveled to the Sierra, it’s not advised to do so now. Chain controls are already in effect. See the latest road conditions from Caltrans here. | Related | What’s an atmospheric river? A pineapple express? Here’s an explainerGet California Storm ReadyDownload our app for the latest breaking news and weather alertsTrack live California Doppler radarSee our live traffic mapChain controls? Track the latest California road conditions informationSend us your weather videos and photosSacramento County activates respite centers ahead of storms, seeks donationsTrack California power outages by countyFollow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Eileen Javora on FacebookMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/climate reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterWatch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.

Our weather team is calling Sunday an Alert Day because of the expected impacts from a strong storm, which has plenty of moisture thanks to an atmospheric river. Sunday’s winds will be the strongest we have seen in Northern California this season and could cause power outages across the region.

Rain began before sunrise throughout the region on Sunday. Strong winds will spread northward this afternoon.

(Watch our live newscast coverage in the video below through 8:30 a.m. We will also have live updates every half hour through 3 p.m. starting at 9:30 a.m. See real-time updates on storm impacts and road conditions further below.)

Here is a closer look at the forecast.

Rain: Rain will be steady for the whole Valley and will be heavy by late morning. Valley totals will be around one and a half to two inches – enough for some street flooding and rises on smaller creeks.

As of now, river flooding is not expected. The Cosumnes River will come up at Michigan Bar, but not enough to cause problems.

Wind: The location of the strongest winds will shift through the day Sunday. Gusts of 40 mph are expected in the San Joaquin Valley Sunday morning.

By midday, the area of strong winds will spread north into Sacramento and east into the Foothills. Gusts of 50 mph or more are possible throughout the Foothills as well as the east side of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley.

Winds will be less intense on the west side of the Valley.

Winds may be in the range of 40-50 mph in Sacramento for several hours. 50+ mph winds will persist longer in the Foothills – likely most of the day.

Winds of this strength can cause power outages as well as limb and tree damage.

The wind will slowly back off on Sunday evening. Sunday night will be breezy, but the damaging wind threat will be over.

Snow: Steady snow began impacting Sierra travel before sunrise Sunday. Snow will continue without breaks all day and into Sunday night.

Snowfall rates over 2 inches per hour are possible. That combined with strong winds will create whiteout conditions from midday Sunday through Monday morning. Two to three feet of snow is still the expectation for the passes. Road closures are possible.

Wind will be less intense on Monday, but steady snow will continue to create difficult travel above 5,000 feet.

Meanwhile, Southern California is also expecting significant impacts from the storm this weekend.

Looking ahead, Monday will be breezy with occasional rain.

Here are live updates on the winter storm in California

8:05 a.m.: Tamara Berg reports from LiveTracker 3 that there have been some spinouts on the Yolo Causeway. She hasn’t seen the roadway flooding that was reported on CHP online logs.

7:50 a.m.: A crash has been reported on southbound Interstate 5 at Sutterville Road in Sacramento, according to CHP online logs.

7:50 a.m.: There is roadway flooding westbound on the Yolo Causeway, according to CHP online logs.

7:41 a.m.: Here’s another update on chain controls.

7:38 a.m.: Here’s a look at the timing of rain and snow in Northern California.

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7:30 a.m.: Meteorologist Heather Waldman says if you haven’t already traveled to the Sierra, it’s not advised to do so now. Chain controls are already in effect. See the latest road conditions from Caltrans here.

| Related | What’s an atmospheric river? A pineapple express? Here’s an explainer

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