There has been a persistent drought across the west. It’s been tough this year, but it’s been ongoing for years now. The northern end of the San Joaquin Valley is no exception. Our forecast for Sacramento came before the blistering heat that is coming to the Northwest, and temperatures were relatively comfortable, only reaching the upper 80s for the weekend of our forecast, but as has been typical: no rain. Weatherbug claimed the top forecast, continuing a trend of success for that outlet. Actuals: June 12th, High 88, Low 59 June 13th, High 87, Low 61
We are taking a forecast trip to the capital of California.
At 753PM, PT, Sacramento was reporting a temperature of 78 degrees with partly cloudy skies. Showers were seen in the mountains north of Chico, as a north Pacific gyre continues to spin some moisture to the Pacific Northwest. It hasn’t brought any rain to the Sacramento area, but temperatures are moderated by the cool Pacific air. Expect the temperature tends to change with a subtle update to the wind direction. Instead of cool Pacific air funneling towards Sacramento, downsloping will be enhanced and the heat will return to Sacramento tomorrow and continue through the weekend. Tomorrow – Partly cloudy, High 90, Low 58 Sunday – Partly cloudy, High 89, Low 64
TWC: Tomorrow – Sunny skies. High 91, Low 59 Sunday – Sunny skies. High 89, Low 62
AW: Tomorrow – Very warm with plenty of sunshine High 89, Low 58 Sunday – Mostly sunny High 89, Low 61
NWS: Tomorrow – Sunny High 90, Low 59 Sunday – Sunny, High 90, Low 62
WB: Tomorrow – Sunny warmer, High 90, Low 59 Sunday – Sunny, High 87, Low 62
WN: Tomorrow – Sunny, High 90, Low 59 Sunday – Sunny, High 90, Low 62
FIO: Tomorrow – Clear throughout the day. High 91, Low 57 Sunday – Clear throughout the day. High 90, Low 60
Hot and dry, just what Californians aren’t looking to hear.
A little over a week ago, we took a look at the weather in Sacramento, which was at the tail end of a nasty couple of days. The culprit was a broad area of low pressure that would end up moving into the southern Plains and bringing a tornado outbreak to the southeast late this week. Things bounced back very quickly after one last murky day on Thursday. The high temperatures jumped more than 10 degrees from Thursday to Friday, setting up a nice weekend. Accuweather grabbed a narrow victory. Actuals: Thursday – High 58, Low 36 Friday – High 69, Low 35
You know, we talk a lot about how nasty the weather is in most of these posts, but let’s take note of how fine the weather was in Sacramento last week. We issued a forecast at the beginning of the week for Tuesday and Wednesday, and the weather was delightful. The forecasts were very good as well, with a triple threat tied for the forecast win: The Weather Service, The Weatherbug and The WeatherNation. Actuals: Last Tuesday – High 78, Low 47 Last Wednesday – High 82, Low 52
I-40 runs all the way from North Carolina to California, and yet we will spend the first part of this trip getting up to I-80. The drive will be a 5 day excursion that covers 2,635 miles. Our 5 days will be evenly spaced at 527 miles a day. or rather just short of 66mph. We have some ground to cover, so we should probably get a move on.
Hickory, North Carolina
DAY ONE (Tuesday) A weak tail of a cold front will be sweeping through the Appalachians overnight tonight. Could there be a little bit of mountain snow in the Appalachians. It will probably be only rain along our route through the mountains, as it will likely only be possible on the west side of the hills. Rain might be a possibility all the way to Crossville, but expect cool and dry air to move in by the late afternoon as we touch two more states, Kentucky and Illinois, where we will stop in Vienna, in far southern Illinois.
DAY TWO (Wednesday) A little bullet of low pressure is going to arise in the southern Plains and move through the central US. The warm front will be a traditional stratiform rain maker, just like we want to see in the spring and summer months. That is to say, no severe weather and no snow. We’ll be in the rain for most of the time spent in Missouri. Rain will lighten north of about St. Joseph but there will certainly be some lingering sprinkle activity north to Nebraska City, along the Iowa/Nebrasla state line.
DAY THREE (Thursday) The weather will become more congested as we head west. Nebraska looks like it will be pretty OK as we move along I-80, but don’t be surprised if an emerging feature brings some light ran to our drive after we pass into Wyoming. We’ll make it to Turtle Rock in the midst of a National Forest between Cheyenne and Laramie.
DAY FOUR (Friday) Some atmospheric troughing will continue over the Wyoming Rockies, and a splash of rain with maybe *MAYBE* some snow in the peaks will accompany our trip along I-80 in Wyoming. Utah will be a different story as the Great Basin will be bathed in sunlight. It will work out just so that our day will end in West Wendover, Nevada, right along the UTah border.
DAY FIVE (Saturday) What better way to finish a long week of driving than with a bright, sunny drive without the threat for inclement weather. Truckee and Lake Tahoe can be a bear when the weather is active, especially this time of year, and we just won’t have anything to really worry about. Sunscreen, maybe, if you want to go out while you are in town.
We’ve been worried so much about what has been going on in the southeast lately, we haven’t even looked out west for a while. What is, exactly, going on in the West Coast?
At 1053AM, PT, Sacramento was reporting overcast skies and a temperature of 58 degrees. A weak perturbation in the upper atmosphere is generating clouds over California, including some precipitation in he higher terrain, but there isn’t much support coming behind this feature. Clouds may take time clearing out, but a significant cool down and precipitation are not expected. More concerted ridging will move into the area by midday tomorrow, rendering Tuesday a clearer and warmer day for the Capitol. There should still be some ambient cloud cover through the area on Wednesday, as a north to south jet will continue weakly along the Nevada-Utah border, and will likely provide, at the very least, some clouds on the eastern horizon for Sacramento Tomorrow – Mostly cloudy but clearing High 75, Low 47 Wednesday – Partly cloudy, High 80, Low 49
TWC: Tomorrow – Mainly sunny. High 78, Low 47 Wednesday – Partly cloudy. High 82, Low 78
AW: Tomorrow – Partly sunny, pleasant and warmer High 77, Low 46 Wednesday – Beautiful with a blend of sun and clouds High 82, Low 49
NWS: Tomorrow – Sunny High 78, Low 47 Wednesday – Mostly sunny, High 83, Low 51
WB: Tomorrow – Mostly sunny, High 78, Low 47 Wednesday – Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy, High 81, Low 51
WN: Tomorrow – Mostly sunny, High 78, Low 47 Wednesday – Partly cloudy, High 83, Low 51
FIO: Tomorrow – Clear throughout the day. High 78, Low 48 Wednesday – Clear throughout the day. High 84, Low 53
V-W is a bigger believer in the threat for cloud cover. Below, take a look at how robust it is this morning. You can’t even make out the coast yet today.
