The first wave of a multi-day winter rain and wind storm hit northern California Wednesday morning, triggering a flood warning, causing small incidents around the region and canceling events over the rest of the week.
While the sun may peek out from time to time, the series of storms is expected to pummel much of the region with high winds and heavy rainfall through the weekend.
Flood and high-wind advisories have been issued from Thursday afternoon through Sunday.
Here are some safety tips for dealing with downed wires and power outages, and here's some advice for safe driving.
Some cities, including Elk Grove, are offering free sandbags to residents in case flooding occurs.
Add your photos of the rain storm here!
What's Canceled, What's Still On?
The weather forced some changes in plans around the region:
- A bridge grand opening in Elk Grove was canceled
- Fair Oaks' Christmas in the Park was postponed for the first time in 29 years
- In Placer County, the Auburn Festival of Lights Parade was postponed this weekend. The parade is now scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 8.
- Know of more? Tell us in the comments section below
Sacramento Flight Delays Unlikely, Officials Say
Sacramento County officials say travelers shouldn’t have to worry about the storm grounding planes–a spokeswoman for the Sacramento International Airport said staff there don’t expect flight delays as a result of the rain and winds.
“However, we recommend that passengers give themselves extra time to travel to the airport in case of vehicle traffic delays on area roadways,” Karen Doron said by email.
Updated information on flight delays is available at the airport’s website and on FAA.gov.
Going to Tahoe? Take Chains
Those who plan on taking a trip to Tahoe will need chains on any vehicles except 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires, according to the California Department of Transportation. Officials note the advisory affect travelers along certain portions of both eastbound Interstate 80 and Highway 50 roadways.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in the Tahoe area are expected to in the mid- to lower-40s during the day, before dropping into the low 30s during the night. According to National Weather Service, weather conditions will vary, with possible mixes of rain and snow from day to day. The National Weather Service reports those in the Tahoe area can expect at least a 60 percent chance of precipitation throughout the rest of the work week, and at least a 90 percent chance throughout the upcoming weekend.
Road conditions are updated regularly and can be found on the CalTrans webste. For more weather updates, be sure to check out the National Weather forecast website, too.
