Rain expected through the weekend

If there is some Thanksgiving baking on which to get a head start, or even holiday shopping, the weather will certainly suggest this is a good weekend to do it.

Rainy skies are expected to begin this morning and last through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service, which is also predicting snow in the Sierras.

"It's definitely an indoor weekend," said George Cline, a forecaster with the service's Sacramento office.

He said the first spate of rain will arrive this morning in Yuba-Sutter with light to moderate showers. Rainy weather — a separate storm — will then continue Saturday and Sunday with greater amounts falling, he said.

As well, the snow level will start at 7,000 feet, but drop to 5,000 feet as the second storm moves in, and residents can expect inclemency through at least Monday.

"We've opened the door for unsettled weather for the week," Cline said. "But it won't be so organized after Sunday and Monday."

What that means is possible showers on and off through much of next week, and a chance of another storm forming and rolling in through Thanksgiving weekend, he said.

Having a storm, or even a series of storms, is not unusual for November, which is typically the first month Northern California sees its first dose of truly wintry weather.

Still, Cline said, while these storms are not expected to be particularly windy, enough rain might fall to moisten the ground and help an aged tree or two topple over.

And, on the more everyday side of the ledger for fall, knock enough leaves off to keep the rake jockeys busy.