NorCal Thunderstorms Loom, Temps To Plummet After Record Heatwave

SACRAMENTO, CA — After experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, Northern California's weather will make a dramatic shift as temperatures drop and bring the chance of thunderstorms this week.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms as a low pressure system heads to Northern California, bringing the possibility of lightning strikes and heavy downpours that could cause isolated flooding. The storm could arrive as early as Thursday.

A ridge of high pressure that generated last week's heat wave has moved east.

"Last week's ridge was weaker which is why it wasn't as warm as mid-March," said Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist for National Weather Service Bay Area

"Today, we have some short-wave troughing and that's why temperatures have have dropped into the 70s in the interior," she said.

On Monday, coastal areas saw a significant change in temperatures, with cooler weather expected in the 70s — 10 degrees lower than Saturday. Temperatures will continue to slide into the 60s throughout the week as more cloud cover moves into the region, especially in the Bay Area.

By this weekend, there is a chance Northern California could see one-quarter to less than half-an-inch of rain in lower elevations, and up to an inch of rain in higher elevations, Kennedy said.

Forecasters said they expect a wet April to compensate for the extreme heat that struck California last month.

Here's a look at some of the forecasted temperatures this week for Northern California: