Sunday night rain ended record-long streak for Sacramento. When is more coming?
Rain showers Sunday evening snapped a streak of nearly seven months with no measurable precipitation in downtown Sacramento.
The unprecedented dry spell ended at 212 days, according to the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office. Before Sunday, it had last rained a measurable amount (at least one-hundredth of an inch) on March 19.
The streak blew past the previous record of 194 days set in 1880, between that May and November, according to the weather service.
It was a small respite. Only 0.01 inches fell downtown Sunday, and 0.04 inches at Sacramento Executive Airport. More rain fell in the northern Sacramento Valley, including more than a tenth of an inch near Redding.
More, heavier rain is on the way to Northern California after a dry Monday. Weather service forecasts show showers are likely to start back up Tuesday night, with between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected near the capital by Wednesday morning.
Forecasts show a 90% chance of rain Wednesday in Sacramento, with chances of rain and showers continuing each day through at least Sunday.
High temperatures are predicted to range from the low to upper 60s this week.
Downtown Sac dry streak is over! As of 9:15pm with 0.01" of rain, the record-setting, 212 day dry streak at Downtown Sacramento has finally ended. Light rain may continue for another hour or so.
Is it raining where you are? Let us know!#CAwx pic.twitter.com/uipIOHtZyJ— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 18, 2021
Scattered showers continue across interior #NorCal early this morning with areas of snow over the northern #SierraNevada. Check https://t.co/6jnhwJwcfC for the latest road conditions. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/RLUpoXLCsc
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 18, 2021
Snow in the mountains
Meanwhile, the Sierra Nevada mountains have seen snow fall amid a winter storm that began Sunday afternoon and was continuing Monday morning.
Between 6 and 10 inches fell at elevations above 7,000 feet, with 2 to 4 inches recorded at lower elevations in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin, the weather service’s Reno office reported Monday.
A winter weather advisory remained in place through 9 a.m. Monday. Chain restrictions were in place along highways at summit level, including Interstate 80 and Highways 50, 88 and 89, according to the weather service and Caltrans.
Snowing here at the office! Anyone else up at this hour enjoying the fresh snow? pic.twitter.com/j2aQyQ4uBq
— NWS Reno (@NWSReno) October 18, 2021
Southerly winds pushed through the area Sunday afternoon and evening, bringing many gusts in the 45-57 mph range area-wide. We'll have snow totals for you once stations report this morning! pic.twitter.com/i88vm9I76V
— NWS Reno (@NWSReno) October 18, 2021