An atmospheric river-fueled storm brought some long-awaited rain to the Sacramento area on Friday after a dry start to 2025.

Up to 3 inches of rain were expected to fall in Sacramento on Friday through Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

The storm was coming from the south, said meteorologist Sara Purdue.

The weather service issued a flood watch Friday for much of northern California, due to the “potential for flooding caused by excessive rainfall.”

Here’s what to know:

Moderate to heavy rain is expected through Sunday with highest totals over the mountains and adjacent foothills. Travelers can expect longer than normal commutes and slick roadways. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/86ztrrXcbk

— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 31, 2025

“Light to moderate rain” was expected in the Sacramento Valley on Friday, according to an infographic the weather service shared on its website.

Saturday and Sunday are expected to have “periods of moderate to heavy rain.,” the weather service said.

A colder weather system is expected to move into the area by Tuesday, the weather service said, bringing more moderate to heavy rainfall.

The flood watch will be in effect from noon on Friday, Jan. 31, through 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, the weather service said.

The flood watch affects areas below 3,000 feet elevation in much of the Sacramento Valley, including the cities of Sacramento, Modesto and Stockton.

Purdue said low-lying urban areas and roads could see “decent flooding,” while creeks, rivers and streams could have “sharp rises” in water level.

Foothill areas may experience mud and rock slides.

Rain was expected to start falling in Sacramento before 5 p.m. Friday, according to the weather service’s latest seven-day forecast.

The forecast called for a 10th to a quarter of an inch of rain during the day.

Between half and three-quarters of an inch of rain was expected overnight Friday, when wind gusts could reach 20 mph.

On Saturday, Sacramento could see a half of an inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain, with an additional quarter to half inch possible overnight.

Winds could gust as high as 21 mph on Saturday.

There is a 90% chance of rain on Sunday, with winds gusting up to 20 mph, while Sunday night has an 80% chance of rain.

The weather service forecast “chances” of showers through Thursday.

Snow levels in the Sierra Nevada could drop to elevations as low as 5,500 feet during the storm, according to the National Weather Service.

The greater Lake Tahoe area could receive up to two feet of snow at elevations above 7,000 feet through Monday.

Wind gusts are forecast to reach up to 90 mph, the weather service said.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email [email protected].

This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM.

California is experiencing fluctuating weather conditions as rain returns to parts of the state, impacting San Francisco and Sacramento with varying levels of precipitation and temperature shifts.

Why It Matters

A significant change in weather patterns is set to impact Northern California, particularly in San Francisco and Sacramento. While the state capital is experiencing colder-than-average temperatures, San Francisco is bracing for multiple days of rain. These conditions could lead to potential travel disruptions and concerns for vulnerable populations.

Sacramento Weather

In Sacramento, the current temperature on January 30, 2025, is 45.5 F, which is 3.4 F below the five-year historical average of 48.9 F. A maximum probability of precipitation of 4 percent suggests a dry day, but showers are expected to return on January 31 and continue into February 1. The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised residents to prepare for wet and cold conditions in the coming days, with concerns about road safety and frost overnight.

San Francisco Weather

For San Francisco, rain is expected to intensify starting January 31. The NWS forecasts an 80-100 percent chance of rain through the weekend, with the heaviest precipitation expected on Friday and Saturday. Highs will remain in the mid to upper 50s, with lows in the upper 40s. Winds from the south-southeast could reach up to 11 mph, further contributing to the stormy conditions.

What People Are Saying

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the NWS in Sacramento said: "Active weather will return to the area tomorrow, with periods of moderate to heavy rain and mountain snow. Active weather remains in the forecast into next week as well, so now is a great time to prepare [for] wet weather!"

"Active weather returns Friday-Sunday with a warm storm system. A second, colder system will bring widespread rain, mountain snow, and breezy southerly winds to interior NorCal early next week," the Sacramento office said in another social media post.

The NWS Bay Area office also shared a similar forecast on X, saying, "increasing confidence for impacts across the North Bay from a series of rain systems beginning Friday. Confidence in rainfall amounts shifting farther south continue to increase, so follow us for forecast updates!"

"Rain is coming soon! Friday and Saturday will see the first of a series of systems, directed mainly at the North Bay, with the next week seeing more widespread chances for precipitation," the Bay Area office said in another post.

What's Next

The forecast suggests a wet start to February for both Sacramento and San Francisco. The state capital will likely see intermittent showers, while San Francisco is expected to remain under persistent rainfall through Monday. Residents are encouraged to stay updated with local weather advisories and take necessary precautions, particularly when traveling.

A Sacramento-area suburb is among the fastest growing wealthy suburbs in the nation, according to GoBankingRates.

The personal finance website recently ranked the 30 fastest growing wealthy suburbs in America, comparing developing neighborhoods based on household income, home value and more.

A total of five California suburbs made the list of locations that saw significant population growth.

“California boasts the second-highest number of growing wealthy suburbs,” GoBankingRates writer Heather Taylor wrote in a Jan. 14 article, trailing only after Texas.

Here’s which ones landed on the list and where:

El Dorado Hills in El Dorado County narrowly missed the top 10, landing at No. 12 on GoBankingRates’ list of rapidly growing wealthy suburbs.

The Sacramento-area suburb saw a 10.86% increase in population between 2018 and 2023, the site said.

The median household income in El Dorado Hills was $163,544, GoBankingRates said, while the average home value was $908,158.

Two California suburbs ranked among the top 10 wealthy, fast-growing suburban cities in the United States, according to GoBankingRates.

Dublin in Alameda County was the highest-ranked California city at No. 8.

The East Bay suburb saw a 19.22% increase in population from 2018 to 2023, according to GoBankingRates.

The median household income in Dublin was $205,046, while the average home value was $1,488,417.

Landing at No. 10 is Eastvale in northwestern Riverside County.

The Southern California suburb boasted an average household income of $161,322 and a $948,164 median home value.

Eastvale’s population grew 14.42% between 2018 and 2023, GoBankingRates said.

Meanwhile, San Ramon in Contra Costa County was No. 11 with a population growth of 13.73% between 2018 and 2023.

The average income in San Ramon was $197,358 and the median home value was $1,733,442.

North Tustin in Orange County saw a 5.26% population increase during the same five-year period.

The median household income in North Tustin was $186,250 and the average home value was $1,700,977.

Texas had the most fast-growing wealthy suburbs in the nation with seven cities in the top 30, GoBankingRates said.

According to the site, these were the top 10 wealthy suburbs for population growth:

Visit the GoBankingRates website for the full list of the fastest-growing suburban cities.

GoBankingRates analyzed cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 people, focusing on metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more.

“Only places with a median household income of $150,000 or more were kept for this study,” the site said.

GoBankingRates then looked at population changes for each city from 2018 to 2023.

The site sourced data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, AreaVibes, Zillow Home Value Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and Federal Reserve Economic Data. All data was current as of Jan. 6.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email [email protected].

SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento City Unified School District is calling itself a safe haven school district that is pledging to protect its students from unlawful Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, raids on school campuses.

It has been a worry for many illegal immigrant families since the federal government reversed its "sensitive locations" policy which made it legal for immigration enforcement to happen at schools, churches and hospitals.

Sacramento City's safe haven policy is nothing new, but a reminder of what rights ICE has if it tries to come on campus.

"Our children have been crying," said Nora Barraza, who has three children in SCUSD schools. "They don't want to go to school. Their academic achievement has gone down."

SCUSD Board of Education President Jasjit Singh said the district is standing strong on its safe haven school policies that say that immigration enforcement is not allowed on its school campuses without a valid court order.

"Please send your children to school. despite the anxiety and fear being pushed upon you, know this is a safe place," Singh said.

CBS13 asked the district about the plan it has in place if ICE shows up on campus.

"Their job is to present a valid warrant," Singh said. "That valid warrant needs to be checked and processed by our legal staff."

An attorney told CBS13 that if ICE has a valid arrest warrant, they can take you immediately, but you never have to speak and you have the right to an attorney.

"We haven't gotten any indication that things are happening, but even if they were it's very clear we aren't going to get a heads up," Singh said.

SCUSD leaders said they won't make it easy and are committed to creating more rules and documentation if ICE shows up, even with a warrant from a judge.

"It's not that they come on campus and get to do the whole look at our vests and look at us patrolling around campus," Singh said.

SCUSD is asking families to update their emergency cards in case a child's family is detained while they are at school.

Chief of Staff for the Department of Education David Schapira said California is one of six states that funds schools based on attendance.

"So, what that means is when students feel unsafe on campus or parents feel unsafe sending their kids to campuses, the result of that is a negative impact on all students because that school loses funding and that lack of funding impacts every child," Schapira said.

He commended SCUSD's policy and called on all California schools to implement the same kind of policy to protect students.

"It is important to know that California has a law that permits California school districts to prohibit immigration enforcement officials from being on school campuses and enforcing immigration laws in a way that make our students feel unsafe," Schapira said.

He said Senate Bill 48, which will be in this legislative session, would prohibit school officials from allowing immigration enforcement officials on their campuses without a court order.

"It's very hard, but we need to give our kids that peace of mind. One way or another we need to find that way to give them that peace of mind," Barraza said.

WALNUT GROVE, Calif. —

A rig crash was blocking traffic Tuesday morning in south Sacramento County near Walnut Grove, the California Highway Patrol said.

CHP was dispatched around 3:07 a.m. to northbound Interstate 5 near the onramp for Twin Cities Road. The truck was hauling several different types of grocery items including hair gel and for some reason overturned, CHP said.

Jam-packed, stacked cardboard boxes of frozen meat and seafood products, many with the “Butcher Box” meat delivery service logo, were seen among the cargo. Wine and chicken tenders were seen spilled on the ground.

The driver sustained a cut to his ear and was taken to a nearby hospital, CHP said. No other injuries were reported.

Caltrans was diverting traffic off I-5 at Twin Cities Road but reopened the lanes as of 9:20 a.m. Drivers should expect delays and seek alternative routes at this time.

This is a developing story. Check back with KCRA3 for updates. Click on the video below to see earlier coverage of the crash.

See our live traffic map for updates.

This story was curated by Hearst's KCRA Alert Desk.

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