A Chance For Snow In Fair Oaks

Will it snow or won’t it? It appears to be all that anyone living outside of Tahoe is talking about in Northern California.

The question is, how low will the snow go? According to local meteorologists there is a 50:50 chance Californians will see snow at sea level; however, most believe it’s a more likely chance snow will fall on anything above 1,000 feet Thursday night.  That means places as low as Cameron Park could be getting a healthy dose of frozen precipitation.

“It has to be the right combination of factors, in just the right sequence,” said Jan Null meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Service. “First, you need the cold air, then the precipitation, not just cold rain.”

It’s been 35 years since snow has dipped so low as to hit the Bay Area, when a cold front brought snow all of the Bay area on Feb. 5, 1976. However, according to the National Weather Service, the last time Sacramento had snow was on January 28, 2002.

The National Weather Service predicts the most likely chance for snow fall in Fair Oaks will arrive on Friday night, though rain and sleet are likely to mix as early as Thursday evening. Temperatures will start dipping rapidly starting Thursday evening and by Friday night when temps dip below 30-degrees, there will be a 40 percent chance of snow in the area.

Those snowy vistas can be powerful draws for folks unaccustomed to seeing snow this low. That’s where California Highway Patrols find many flatlanders heading for the hills to flex their snowball-throwing muscles … and getting their vehicles stuck when they pull off the road to play.

“We highly recommend not getting out of the car when they see snow on the side of the roads,” CHP’s north Sacramento division representative, Liz Dutton said. “That can lead to many kinds of problems, ones that can turn fatal.”

Dutton emphasizes for those who have never driven in snow or drive in areas not typically affected by snow to slow down and allow plenty of time to get to destinations. She also recommends people be very aware of their surroundings.

“Make sure to watch for cars doing things they shouldn’t be doing,” Dutton said.

It is also treacherous for those who don’t have a snow day on the agenda.

“We recommend you have a back-up plan if you go over mountains for your commute,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Anderson.

If driving conditions are hazardous, Caltrans will shut down portions of I-80 and Hwy 50.

“It’s just going to be a mess Friday morning,” Anderson said. “People will be trying to get over mountains and they won’t be able to get over.”

Though Fair Oaks doesn’t have the thrills the Sierras may have, the town does have its fair share of hills perfect for that impromptu sled trip. And who knows? Maybe Mother Nature will deem Fair Oaks worthy of decent dumping. If you do find yourselves heading to the nearby hills, please be sure to share your photos with Fair Oaks Patch here. Email joshua.staab@patch.com and we’ll be sure to post your snow day fun photos.