Snow Possible In Napa County; Freeze Warning Extended

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The cold storm currently moving through Napa County and the Bay Area will stick around a little longer.

The National Weather Service extended its freeze warning for interior areas of the Bay Area for another 24 hours into Friday morning. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 32 are expected in Napa County and throughout the Sonoma Coastal Range, North Bay interior mountains and North Bay interior valleys.

A winter storm warning now lasts until 11 a.m. Friday, with snow still expected at elevations above 1,500 to 2,000 feet. Areas under the winter storm warning include the Sonoma Coastal range, the interior mountains of Sonoma County, the Marin highlands, the mountains of Napa County, the East Bay Hills, the eastern Santa Clara Hills, the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Santa Lucia Mountains, and the interior mountains of San Benito and Monterey County.

Snow will increase beginning late Thursday afternoon and continue into Friday morning along with locally strong and gusty winds. The snow level will be 1,000 to 1,500 feet with total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches for elevations above 1,500 feet, the weather service said.

"Slick, snow-covered roads and hiking trails," forecasters said. "Hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts may encounter dangerous winter-like conditions above the snow level. Heavier snow showers could produce limited visibilities. Downed trees and power outages possible."

At the lower elevations, rain and snow showers will become more widespread Thursday evening into Friday, with a 10 percent chance of thunderstorms Thursday into Friday, according to the weather service.

Napa County Forecast

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for Napa County through next Wednesday:

Thursday
Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all rain after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. South southwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night
Rain and snow showers before midnight, then rain showers between midnight and 1am, then rain and snow showers after 1am. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 33. South wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday
Rain and snow showers likely before 1pm, then a chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. South southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Widespread frost after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North wind 8 to 10 mph.

Saturday
Widespread frost before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind around 7 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Patchy frost between 11pm and 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Sunday
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46.

Sunday Night
Showers likely, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Monday
Showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.

Monday Night
Showers. Cloudy, with a low around 37.

Tuesday
Showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46.

Tuesday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Wednesday
A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.