Cold system brings chance of snow in Redding, snowstorm in Mount Shasta later this week

A blast of cold air is expected to hit the North State later this week and there is a chance that snow will reach the valley floor.

But any snow or rain that falls will not amount to much, according to the National Weather Service. That's not good news as the area has been drying out after a wet January.

“Right now, for the Redding area, there is definitely some uncertainty,” said Heather Chandler-Cooley, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Sacramento.

The best chance for snow in Redding will be early Thursday morning and then Thursday night into Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

More:After historically bad drought in 2022, here's how North State's water year is shaping up

“Basically, Wednesday through Friday we are looking at only a quarter inch (of rain) up to four-tenths of an inch, so there is not a lot of moisture, so it wouldn’t be a whole lot of snow, if snow does form,” Chandler-Cooley said.

Snow levels Wednesday night and into Thursday morning are expected to be around 1,000 feet, though there is a chance they will drop to 500 feet in some areas, the National Weather Service says. Snow levels could also dip to around 500 feet Friday.

After getting nearly 10 inches of rain in January, more than 3 inches above the norm, the Redding Regional Airport has received a scant 1.06 inches so far in February. Still, that's more than last February, when the airport got less than a tenth of an inch for the entire month.

And for the water year, which started in October, the Redding Regional Airport has received 21.10 inches of rain, which is just below the historical average.

The cold storm passing through the area will drop lows into the teens for parts of Siskiyou County starting Tuesday night with a chance of snow accompanying the frigid weather.

Up to 8 inches of snow could fall in greater Mount Shasta by the time the system leaves the area Friday night.

In the valley, gusty north wind will start blowing Tuesday. That National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory through 10 p.m. Tuesday. Peak gusts could reach 45 mph.

Saturday should be dry with highs around 60 degrees before another chance of showers arrive Sunday.

“We are looking at a continued wet pattern into early next week,” Chandler-Cooley said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.