Weather Report

Floods, fires or extended power outages: Be prepared for an emergency

Pleasant week to be capped by drop in temps

By Bill Lindelof - Published: 6:33 am

Mild spring weather is forecast for today and the remainder of the week -- before temperatures drop for the weekend.

Snow could return to Sierra by Sunday

By Carlos Alcalá - Updated: Saturday, May 7 2011 - 2:15 pm

Record snowfall buries home in Serene Lakes

Snow? Snow!

Pleasant weekend in sight for Sacramento

By Bill Lindelof - Published: Friday, May 6 2011 - 6:51 am

Warm weather today is expected to transition into a pleasant weekend.

It'll be hot today, then cooling trend begins

By Bill Lindelof - Updated: Friday, May 6 2011 - 1:45 am

Sacramento's unseasonably hot temperatures are about to get unseasonably cool for Mother's Day on Sunday.

Wet weather postpones road openings till May 13

By Carlos Alcalá - Updated: Thursday, May 5 2011 - 10:23 am

Seasonal road closures in the Eldorado National Forest will continue until May 13, officials announced.

Temperatures in Sacramento to approach 90

By Bill Lindelof - Updated: Wednesday, May 4 2011 - 7:53 am

Sacramento could see its first 90-degree reading of the year today.

National Weather News

Fire and rain: Fed scientists point to wild April - 10:24 pm
The nation's weather - 1:44 am
More evacuations in Memphis as Mississippi rises - May 8
The nation's weather - May 8
More evacuations in Memphis as Mississippi rises - May 8

Fox40 Forecast

Sacramento Forecast

Local Radar

» Full | Loop | Tahoe

Satellite

»Expand Image

Randall Benton / RBenton@sacbee.com

A woman returns to her car as snow falls on Stage Coach Alley behind shops along Main Street in Placerville on Friday, February 25, 2011.
Bryan Patrick / bpatrick@sacbee.com

Colfax High School students battle the snow between classes. The school was let out at lunch time, making for a half day of school. February 17, 2011.
Bryan Patrick / Bryan Patrick

At a Colfax shopping center a lady takes in her grocery during the snow storm. February 17, 2011.
Bryan Patrick / Bryan Patrick

Aaron Spector enjoys the warm sunny Sacramento weather on the third floor of the Sacramento Convention Center. He was there attending a seminar. Thursday, January 20, 2011.
Bryan Patrick / bpatrick@sacbee.com

A tree in Capitol Park on a rainy Sacramento Day. December 17, 2010.

Gallery

Sacbee.com readers share their storm photos

Gallery

Northern California weather: From storms to sunshine

Weather Q&A

Q: In comparision to the East Coast it seems forecasting the weather along the west coast can sometimes be very tricky. Many a times since moving here from New Jersey I am surprised when a forecast for inclement weather in CA
turns out to be just the opposite. Would you agree?

A: Forecasting anywhere is tricky Steve. In fact, if you ask any meteorologist where is weather prediction most difficult, chances are they will tell you it's wherever they are forecasting.

One significant factor in making a forecast tricky is terrain. Mountains make for much more varied weather conditions than the flat lands. Also, the numerical models used to forecast the weather can, at times, struggle to depict the complexity that mountains introduce. Mountains block winds, trap cold air, channel moisture, enhance rainfall on windward areas and diminish rainfall on leeward slopes.

Another challenge on the West Coast is the lack of upstream land stations. This matters less and less as remote sensing (e.g. satellites) becomes more advanced. But, meteorologists look at upstream weather for clues as to what is coming. That is harder to do when your upstream is a giant ocean.

That said, predictions are very good here on the West Coast. The accuracy our forecasts have today would have been unimaginable just 20 years ago, and our skill continues to increase.

20 questions answered | Submit a question

Ask Scoopy

For years, the Bee's mascot, Scoopy, has been sharing weather facts and trivia on our print-edition weather page. Here are many of his posts compiled by topic.