Be Ready To Break Out The Umbrella On Thursday

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS-SF) - A cold front will rolled through Northern California Thursday, bringing with it showers for the Bay Area and a fresh layer of snow for the Sierra ski resorts, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service said the heaviest showers would most likely arrive in the afternoon with between .25 of an inch to nearly an inch falling in most areas. An inch or more was possible in the coastal mountains.

The system will not linger long, the weather service said, but would be accompanied by strong winds that could exceed 50 mph along the coast.

The storm would bring heavy snow to the Sierra by the evening hours. The weather service said the snow levels would begin around 6500 feet, but lower to lake levels in the Tahoe area during the overnight hours.

Forecasters said 6-to-12 inches were possible for the highest ridges with 2-to-4 inches predicted for lake levels.

Travelers were warned to carry chains if they planned on driving through the mountain passes on Highway 80 and Highway 50.