New Year's Rain & Low Snow Showers

Its looking like we’ll ring in the New Year with a chilly and a times rainy pattern over the next three days with an interesting twist — just how low will snow levels be around the Bay Area and Northern California. First – talking rain, we’ll see bands of showers rolling through from time to time, the heaviest rain will likely fall as the upper low offshore crosses over the Central Coast early on Sunday – this may bring some ice pellet/hail powered showers at times given the relatively low freezing levels aloft. Showers should begin winding down later on Monday as this low heads east of us. Snow possibilities – this is probably the most interesting part of the forecast where for a time overnight into early Saturday we’ll see offshore winds that will continue pumping in cooler, drier low level air out of the Central Valley – as rain falls through this pretty dry, chilly airmass. In this situation, its possible to find some unusually low snow levels, esp. for higher elevation valleys where the colder air can become trapped, or the higher hilltops exposed to the cooler air higher up. For now – best chances for hilltop snow should be in those areas cooled the most by the chilly offshore breeze – the North Bay hills/valleys and possibly around the hills near Mt. Diablo and Livermore. As winds turn a bit more southerly later on Saturday, our chances for lower snow levels should end as things turn a bit more mild and rainy. Have a safe and very Happy New Year 2011 – Rob Mayeda