A bit of sunshine peaked through the clouds Wednesday morning in San Joaquin County following days of stormy weather. But the clouds began rolling in again before noon.

A powerful cold storm system that has already dumped significant rain and snow across Northern California continued to impact the region this week, with the northern Central Valley facing ongoing showers, gusty winds and potential travel disruptions. 

Cold temperatures are forecasted for most of Northern California for the rest of this week, with the lowest overnight temps forecast for Friday, according to the NWS.  Stockton could temps near freezing by the end of the week, with Friday’s expected to be around 34 degrees. 

The brunt of the storm hit Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.  Lighter rounds of rain and mountain snow are expected Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday. 

A wind advisory for the Sacramento Valley will also remain in effect through 10 p.m. Thursday, the weather service said.

“Plan ahead for difficult driving conditions, downed branches and trees, and localized power outages!” the weather service said in a social media post. 

Since Sunday, lower elevations including the San Joaquin Valley have seen widespread rainfall totaling 1.5 to 3 inches, according to the NWS, contributing to slick roads and minor flooding risks in poorly drained areas. Areas of the northern Central Valley, including Stockton, could see up to another inch of rainfall over the next day or so.

In Stockton and surrounding San Joaquin County, residents can expect scattered showers through Wednesday evening, with southwest wind gusts between 11 to 24 mph, potentially knocking down tree branches or causing brief power outages, according to the NWS.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until Thursday at 10 p.m. for areas including the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada, Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley and parts of Shasta County. 

Most of the Sacramento Valley  is also under a wind advisory through the same time. The NWS is advising caution on the road and to secure outdoor items.

Higher up in altitude, the foothills and Sierra Nevada have seen heavy snowfall since the weekend, with accumulations of more than 3 feet above elevations of 5,000 feet since Sunday, according to the NWS. Snow levels have already dropped to between 2,000 and 2,500 feet as colder air filters into the area  Wednesday, affecting foothill communities and creating dangerous driving conditions on major roadways like Interstate 80 and Highway 50, the weather service reports. 

California Highway Patrol in Truckee reported in a social media post that I-80 in both directions over Donner Summit remains closed due to snow conditions, with no time estimate for when roadways will reopen. 

Heavy snow continues into Wednesday with a Winter Storm Warning in effect until Thursday night. 

Expected additional snowfall of 1 to 2 feet is expected in the Sierra Nevada between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening, with up to an additional 3 feet over the highest peaks, according to the NWS.  About 3 to 6 Lower elevations down to 2,000 feet are forecasted up to 6 inches of snow, the weather service said. Wind gusts up to 50 mph have also been forecasted.

Heavy snow and increasing winds Wednesday, with gusts possibly reaching about 75 mph at higher elevations, have caused white whiteout conditions in higher elevations.

“Lull in activity will continue through a majority of the day, with isolated to scattered snow in the mountains and foothills,” NWS said in a social media post. “Increasing precipitation late this afternoon and evening with heavy snow tonight and into tomorrow. Travel in the mountains is HIGHLY discouraged.” 

A report of an avalanche in the Castle Peak area, ​​near Donner Summit and I-80, occurred at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. A group of 15 back country skiers were reportedly caught in the avalanche, with only six members of the party having been rescued as of Tuesday evening, according to a social media post update. 

Eight of the skiers were found dead and one skier is still missing, according to officials during a news conference on Wednesday. 

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said the families of the victims have been informed the mission has moved from rescue to recovery. 

Wednesday morning moving into Thursday, snow levels could reach elevations as low as 1,500 feet in the Sierra foothills, with a chance of light snow accumulating in much lower elevations in some areas of the northern Central Valley, according to the NWS. While Stockton itself is unlikely to see flakes, this could exacerbate issues for commuters heading toward the Motherlode or Shasta County areas.

The NWS monitored for isolated thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon into early evening, particularly in the Central Valley near Sacramento, according to the NWS,  which slight chances of hail, lightning and brief heavy downpours.

Looking ahead, precipitation will lighten and be more  scattered Wednesday into early Thursday, with another wave of widespread rain and mountain snow arriving Thursday as wet weather travels north through the state. 

Rainfall totals in the San Joaquin Valley will also be lighter than the past week, but gusty, southerly winds could return, keeping conditions unsettled, according to the NWS.

A brief respite is in sight late Thursday into Saturday, as the wet weather patterns shift east, allowing for drier weather and improving travel conditions across the region, according to the weather service.