NorCal High-Wind Alert: Gusts Could Reach 60 MPH in the Valley Today; 100 MPH in the Mountains

The National Weather Service has issued a high-wind warning in Northern California on Wednesday and Thursday, with areas in the valley seeing up to 60 mph winds and mountain areas experiencing over 100 mph gusts.

This is just another reason to stay inside this week, as the massive storm descending upon NorCal is full of heavy rain/snow, potential for flooding and now, extreme winds.

Chico and Sacramento are expected to see the highest winds in the valley, with 50-60 mph winds forecast for Wednesday afternoon and night. On January 11, a Sacramento storm with high winds knocked out power to over 100,000 residents. There is certainly a significant chance that power issues could be felt during this storm.

The scene in Sacramento following high winds on January 11

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is forecasting 60-80 mph winds in the high elevation ridges of the Sierra Nevada, with a chance of those winds increasing to 100+ mph by Thursday morning.

If anyone is brave enough to head up to the ski resorts in the next two days, it’s realistic to expect lift closures due to wind.

These winds are expected to bring high surf along the Northern California coast, with waves as high as 40 feet forecast for Sonoma/Bay Area. Meanwhile, the Humboldt coast could see 30+ foot waves. It’s recommended to stay far back from the coastline.

This storm is going to be big and dangerous. Please be careful when traveling, both in the rain and in the snow. Expect road closures and chain controls on the Sierra Nevada and possibly further north in Mt. Shasta and near Lassen.

Giddy up! The storm has officially arrived:

Active NorCal

Telling the Stories of Northern California

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