129
FXUS66 KSTO 052036
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
1236 PM PST Thu Mar 5 2026


.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Gusty north to east winds Thursday through Saturday, strongest
   Friday

 - Warming trend this weekend, with Valley highs well above
   normal, in the 70s to around 80. Slight cooling early next
   week, but above normal temperatures are expected through the
   week.

 - Dy weather is forecast through the weekend into next week

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...Today-Saturday...
The trough that was over the area on Wednesday exits into the
Great Basin today as a ridge builds over the eastern Pacific.
This will lead to gusty north to east winds through Saturday,
with the strongest winds on Friday. NBM probabilities of wind
gusts greater than 40 mph sit around 20-50% on Friday west of I-5
in the Sacramento Valley and around 50-85% over the mountains.
Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph are expected today and Friday, with
higher gusts over the mountains.

Dry and increasingly warm weather is expected into Saturday as
eastern Pacific ridging builds, with highs 10 to 15 degrees above
normal. Valley highs on Saturday are forecast to be in the upper
70s to around 80. Humidity levels will be noticeably lower, due to
the building ridge, warmer temperatures, and several days of
northerly to easterly flow.

...Sunday-Thursday...
Dry and warm weather is expected through this period, with above-
normal high temperatures peaking this weekend. Sunday afternoon
high temperatures will generally reach into the 70s in the Valley
and foothills this weekend, with 50s and low 70s in the mountains.
NBM indicates a 55-80% chance of high temperatures reaching 80
degrees across the northern Sacramento Valley, including Redding.
Above normal temperatures continue into early next week, though a
system passing to the north will briefly flatten the ridge with
slight cooling noticeable Monday and Tuesday, then a bit warmer
mid to late week.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR conditions expected to continue through Friday as dry gusty
northerly flow is set up over the region. Northerly surface winds
will continue to gust from 20 to 30 knots into early this evening.
These winds will pickup once again late Friday morning and
continue into Friday evening.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$