Weather Changes In Store For Friday: Rain, Snow In Forecast

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - There's a big change in the weather forecast for Friday, with plunging temperatures, rain in the valley and foothills and snow in the mountains.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop by midday and progress southward. The strongest storms should be in the southern Sacramento Valley, Delta region, and northern San Joaquin Valley. Brief heavy showers are possible with locally gusty winds and pea-sized hail, according to the National Weather Service.

Snowfall is expected in the mountains above 5,500 feet on Friday afternoon into Saturday morning. In the Sierra Nevada, accumulations will range from a light dusting to several inches of snow with 2 to 4 inches possible over the trans-Sierra roadways. Much of this snow will likely melt quickly, though temperatures will be cooling rapidly behind this weather front.

Cool temperatures will be felt in the Central Valley as well as in the mountains with forecast temperatures of as much as 15 degrees below normal for late May. The high forecasted for Sacramento on Friday is 69.

The primary impacts from the thunderstorms, snowfall, and cool temperatures will be on the travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who will be driving through the weather into the mountains and camping out in the elements over the holiday weekend. Travelers are advised to pack accordingly.

The temperatures will climb back up for the rest of the weekend, into the high 70s on Saturday and low 80s on Sunday and Monday.