11/6/12 Special Weather Statement

From the National Weather Service office in Sacramento: A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION WILL CONTINUE TO BRING WARM AND DRY WEATHER TODAY. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BE 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL WITH READINGS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S IN THE VALLEY AND MID 60S TO MID 70S IN THE MOUNTAINS. RECORD TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN TODAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN TO COOL SOMEWHAT ON WEDNESDAY...THEN MORE DRAMATIC COOLING RETURNS IN EARNEST FOR THE END OF THE WEEK AS A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA SETTLES OVER THE REGION. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS FAR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LATER WEDNESDAY THEN SPREAD SOUTH AND EASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF SATURDAY. THIS WILL BE A COLDER SYSTEM AND SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER TO AROUND 3000 FT IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND TO AROUND 4500 FT OVER THE NORTHERN SIERRA ON THURSDAY...AND POSSIBLY DROP DOWN TO AROUND 2000 TO 3000 FT EARLY FRIDAY. OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE CHANGING WEATHER THIS WEEK. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL THURSDAY AND FRIDAY DUE TO WET AND SLICK ROADS AND BE PREPARED FOR WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO A FOOT WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN PASSES.