Sunny today, but rain returns to Modesto Tuesday

MODESTO -- We’ve had a nice run of springtime weather, but the National Weather Service says winter will return to the Northern San Joaquin Valley as a storm system moves in this week.

Today is expected to be more of the lovely weather we’ve had for the past week or so, with sunny conditions and high temperatures near 70.

Tuesday is a different story, though, as what forecasters call “a significant storm” makes its way into the valley, bringing up to an inch of rain into the lower elevations, as well as snow to the mountains. In fact, the weather service has issued a winter storm watch Tuesday afternoon through Thursday in the upper elevations.

The rain is expected to hit the valley Tuesday night, with showers and thunderstorms possible. The system will bring along predictably lower temperatures, with highs expected only in the low 60s.

Forecasters call for a slight chance of showers by Friday, but by then the system should be clearing out, with sunny conditions and highs in the upper 60s back by the weekend.