Christmas storms drench Sacramento region, more strong winds and thunderstorms expected
A storm system moving north through the Greater Sacramento region has brought more heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.
The wet weather is expected to continue through Christmas Day, where travel up to the Sierra is expected to continue being extremely difficult. Drivers should expect road closures and blizzard conditions, with more snow possible Friday night.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Folsom, Rocklin and Auburn areas until 3 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve and Day
Widespread heavy rain is expected across much of the area, increasing the risk of mudslides in the Sierra Nevada Foothills due to saturated ground. Smaller creeks in the Foothills may flood, while mainstem rivers in the Valley are expected to stay within their banks.
Wednesday's thunderstorms are expected to bring heavy but brief rain with hail possible. Thunderstorms and lightning strikes, along with heavy wind gusts, were occurring in areas including Sacramento and north through Roseville.
Poor drainage and low-lying areas may see pockets of street flooding. Gusty winds are expected across much of the Sacramento Valley into early Christmas Day, which could lead to downed power lines and isolated power outages. Wind gusts across the Sacramento region are expected to reach between 50 and 60 miles per hour during the early morning hours.
Major travel impacts are expected in the Sierra, with multiple feet of snow possible for elevations above 6,000 feet through Christmas Day.
Storm timeline: What to expect
Heavier rainfall moved in earlier this week on Sunday and Monday in the valley and foothills.
Snow levels stayed above 8,000 feet Sunday, then lowered to around 6,500–7,000 feet Monday.
Tuesday brought a brief lull before the next storm arrived on Christmas Eve.
Expected rainfall totals through Christmas Day
- Sacramento Valley: 4–8 inches
- San Joaquin Valley: 2–5 inches
- Foothills and Sierra: 8–16 inches, with pockets near 20 inches possible
Snowfall totals through Christmas Day
- 1 to 3 feet of snow above 6,000 feet
Sierra Road Closures
Up-to-date traffic conditions can be found on Caltrans QuickMap.