January's Weather Wrap-Up: A Mixed Bag for Northern California!

As January draws to a close, the weather in Northern California has delivered a mix of surprises, mainly in the form of light rain and modest snow. The past few days brought a fast-moving system, leading to scattered showers and light snowfall across the region. Sacramento recorded a mere 0.10 inches of rain, while Auburn fared slightly better with 0.15 inches. However, Modesto stayed dry, and Stockton reported only trace amounts, leaving many to wonder, is this what we can expect for the rest of winter?

While those totals might play it cool, they still add to Sacramento’s January total of 2.40 inches, which is about 75% of what we usually see. It’s a far cry from a deluge, but at least it’s something! Unfortunately, the snowpack in the Northern Sierra is a bit of a buzzkill, sitting at just 44% of the average for this time of year. This allows us to breathe a sigh of relief for now, but will it hold up?

Looking ahead, the forecast models suggest a dramatic shift towards warmer and drier conditions for February. As we say goodbye to January’s storms, many are left pondering just how drastically this weather shift is going to affect the region in the months to come. Can we hope for a miracle in February or should we batten down the hatches for a dry spell? Only time will tell!