Road conditions for early Thanksgiving travel as winter storm arrives in the North State

Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
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The first winter storm of the season arrives this week, bringing light rain and freezing night-time temperatures to much of the North State, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm will be warmer and drier than those predicted in earlier forecasters, Shoemaker said Monday night.

It will bring light rains to Redding starting on Tuesday afternoon. More rain arrives Wednesday night and Friday, said meteorologist Craig Shoemaker at the weather service's Sacramento branch.

Interstate 5 in Redding: The Redding area received a quarter of an inch of rain by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.
Interstate 5 in Redding: The Redding area received a quarter of an inch of rain by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.

This week, up to half an inch of rain could fall in Redding by 4 a.m. Friday. Communities along the Shasta and Siskiyou border, north of Redding, could get up to an inch of rain, he said.

High in the mountains, that rain could freeze, causing hazardous road conditions, said Miles Bliss, meteorologist with the weather service's Medford branch.

Winter storm brings freezing temperatures to Siskiyou counties

And dig out those woolly socks.

Freezing temperatures could follow the worst of the storm for much of the North State, the weather service said.

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  • Night time temperatures in Yreka and Mount Shasta will stay in the 30s, dipping below freezing on Sunday, Bliss said.

  • In northeastern Shasta County around Burney, night time temperatures will hover in the 20s this week, Shoemaker said.

Redding nights won't likely dip below 40 this week, Shoemaker said.

Watch for ice at night on mountain highways

Motorists hitting the road early for Thanksgiving should watch for icy conditions at night and possibly a few flurries of snow, in the high mountains, Bliss said.

Watch for black ice on roads, especially in these places:

  • Along Highway 44 and 89 near Lassen Volcanic National Park

  • At high altitudes along the eastern Shasta County and Tehama County line, and around Burney.

  • At high elevations at Mt. Shasta and near high peaks in western Siskiyou County along Highway 3.

The California Department of Transportation suggests people check road conditions before they go at the agency's website: dot.ca.gov/travel.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: First winter storm greets early Thanksgiving travelers