Lakehead, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

689
FXUS66 KSTO 132132
AFDSTO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
132 PM PST Fri Feb 13 2026

For additional details on weather and expected impacts over the
next 7 days, please visit weather.gov/sto/briefing.

.KEY MESSAGES...

  - Dry conditions through Saturday with patchy fog in the Valley
    and Delta.

  - Widespread rain, gusty winds, isolated thunderstorms, and
    substantial mountain snow late Sunday through mid week with
    Major mountain travel impacts and snow levels in the
    foothills.

  - Potential for active weather to continue late next week into
    the following weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...Today through Saturday...

Mostly sunny and dry conditions are being observed across the
region today, with temperatures in the 60s. We expect dry
conditions to continue through Saturday and into the early portion
of Sunday morning, with near normal temperatures. There is a
potential for Valley/Delta Fog Saturday morning, with patchy
visibility reductions to a half mile or less.

...Sunday through Next Week...

A trough will continue to dig into the eastern Pacific late
Saturday and into Sunday with a low pressure system moving onshore
to CA Sunday evening through mid week bringing widespread rain,
isolated thunderstorms, gusty winds, and heavy snow. Heaviest
precipitation moves onshore and into the forecast area late Sunday
and into Monday and continues through Tuesday. Snow levels Sunday
and into Tuesday morning will be around 4500-5000 feet before
lowering toward 3000-4000 feet late Tuesday and into Wednesday.
There is some uncertainty with the timing of the cold push of
temperatures which will affect snow level exact timing. NBM has
been leaning toward a slower push of colder air delaying the onset
of lowered snow levels. There exists a scenario (20 percent
chance) for faster degradation of snow levels which would lead to
higher snowfall in the lower elevation within the foothills around
3000-4000 feet and potential lower to 2000-3000 feet. As of right
now forecasted amounts for snowfall are uncertain, but areas
around 3000-4000 feet will see around a foot, while areas at the
highest elevations will see 4 to 8 feet. If you plan to travel
this holiday weekend through the mountains travel now and tomorrow
before conditions start to deteriorate Sunday as the system moves
onshore. Snow will be heavy and winds will strong with gusts up
to 45 to 55mph. Heavy snow and potential whiteout conditions
create dangerous to near impossible travel conditions. We will
continue to monitor the lower elevations as any deviation of snow
levels by a couple hundred feet increase the threat of impacts
for communities within the foothills. If you plan to travel this
weekend, have backup plans, carry a winter safety kit, and be
prepared.

Moderate rainfall and isolated thunderstorms are expected for
areas within the Valley along with gusty southerly winds Sunday
night through Wednesday. Total rainfall estimates are between 1
and 3 inches for areas within the northern San Joaquin Valley and
into the Sacramento Valley. Up to 4 inches inches (isolated 5
inches) within the northern Sacramento Valley towards the lower
foothills. Slick travel and localized urban and small stream
flooding is possible. Winds will also be strong Monday through
Wednesday for the Sacramento Valley with gusts of 35 to 45mph.

As we push into the later part of next week and into the following
weekend, the troughing over the eastern Pacific continues. This
has been indicated in long term guidance. So, a potential active
pattern looks to continue as we push into the last part of
February.

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR conditions prevail through 6z before fog starts to develop and
clouds move in. Areas around SCK and MOD see visibility reductions
from 10z through 16z of 3-5SM while areas near Sacramento see
visibility reductions down to 5SM. Otherwise skies will be BKN
with winds light and variable 6z through the end of the TAF period
for each site.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Watch from Sunday evening through Wednesday evening
for Burney Basin / Eastern Shasta County-Motherlode-Mountains
Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County-Northeast
Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Shasta Lake Area / Northern Shasta
County-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas
County/Lassen Park.

Wind Advisory from 10 AM Monday to 10 PM PST Wednesday for
Central Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley-Southern
Sacramento Valley.

&&

$$