Advisory Issued As Winds Pick Up; Temperatures Drop
Wild winds are expected to be whipping across the valley throughout Thursday and Friday.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory and a Red Flag Warning for the Sacramento Valley and delta region through Friday afternoon.
Sustained winds during this time will be blowing out of the north at about 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 to 45 mph possible. The strongest winds will be on the western side of the valley, especially impacting travel along Interstate 5.
WATCH: Wild Winds Battering Sacramento Area
Skies will stay clear, leading to an elevated fire threat. The dry conditions mean relative humidity levels dropping as low as 10 percent during the day.
The gusty winds are being brought on by an area of low pressure moving east across the Pacific Northwest. A ridge of high pressure is building right behind it from the Pacific. Essentially, winds are being funneled between the two systems right into Northern California.
High temperatures will take a brief dip into the upper 70s Thursday afternoon, before warming into the low 80s once again on Friday. Once the high pressure moves on shore later in the day Friday, winds will begin to die down.
Saturday and Sunday will be sunny with much calmer conditions as high temperatures will rise back into the mid-80s.
