More rain, snow on way Christmas weekend; 12-18 inches to fall along I-5 north of Redding
Winter storms will continue to drop chilly rain and snow over the North State this weekend and into next week.
Motorists should plan for hazardous road conditions and travel delays, especially in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
In Shasta County, screening for chains stopped around 6 a.m. Saturday for vehicles traveling on Interstate 5 north of Fawndale — about 10 miles north of Redding, the California Department of Transportation said.
In Siskiyou County, the stretch of I-5 between Yreka and Hornbrook reopened early Saturday morning after big rid spinouts closed them on Friday, Caltrans said.
Screenings and delays could resume with more snow on the way, the NWS said. Between Christmas Day and Monday, expect a foot to 18 inches of snow to fall along I-5 in the foothills and mountains north of Redding into Siskiyou County
Here's what weather will bring
Redding, Red Bluff and other parts of the northern Sacramento Valley floor will see up to an inch of rain between Saturday and Monday, according to the NWS in Sacramento.
Wind gusts as strong as 30 mph will blow from the south, moving north.
Thunderstorms roll over the valley Saturday afternoon, bringing the worst of the rain and wind.
It's unlikely communities at lower elevations — like Redding and Shasta Lake — will see snowflakes, but it's uncertainty how low snow levels will drop, the NWS said.
In Shasta County, flakes will fall on the foothills Saturday night, with more snow possible through Wednesday,
Saturday: Snow levels will drop as low as 2,000 feet, blanketing Burney, Fall River Mills, Shingletown and other mountain communities
Sunday: Snow levels drop as low as 1,000 feet, reaching Oak Run and foothill communities.
In Siskiyou County, snow levels could drop to 1,000 feet as early as Saturday, according to the NWS in Medford.
Mount Shasta, Yreka and Happy Camp will see light snow on Saturday followed by heavier snowfall on Sunday into Monday morning.
High mountain communities will be hit hardest by the storms, the NWS said. Lassen Volcanic National Park will get 5 to 6.5 feet of snow.
Skies clear a bit late on Monday, but temperatures are expected to drop later in the week.
Caltrans advises motorists to check road conditions before they go at roads.dot.ca.gov.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: More rain, snow on way; 12-18 inches to fall along I-5 north of Redding
