Rain, strong winds to hit Valley and foothills Thursday

A fast-moving storm will bring wind and welcome rain to the Valley and foothills Thursday, and even more welcome snow to the Sierra, the National Weather Service forecasts.

The storm should be here and gone within 24 hours. The system is warmer than the last storm, the weather service says, so the snow level will be at higher elevations – the 5,000- to 6,000-foot range. Near Sierra passes, 6 to 12 inches could fall.

The system will bring higher winds than earlier storms of the season. Wind speeds are expected to be 30 to 35 mph in the Modesto area, 20 to 30 mph in the Sonora area. The Stockton and Sacramento areas could see winds up to 40 mph. The weather service warns that the storm is likely to cause power failures and localized flooding from wind-blown leaves clogging gutters and drains.

Modesto is predicted to receive a tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain. Sonora is likely to get between half an inch and 1 inch.

The next few days leading up to the storm should be cloudy with increasing daily highs: near 59 Tuesday, near 62 Wednesday, and near 64 Thursday.

Lower temperatures will return when the storm passes: highs near 60 Friday, near 59 Saturday, and near 61 Sunday.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 8:44 AM with the headline "Rain, strong winds to hit Valley and foothills Thursday."