ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting that rain will continue off-and-on through Saturday, with the possibility of a thunderstorm. It issued a wind advisory through Saturday, predicting wind gusts of 40-45 mph near Sacramento. The inclement weather is part of ongoing storms that have so far dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Sierra Nevada.

NWS noted the possible effects of high winds during the advisory.

“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” NWS said in the advisory.

NWS’s experimental National Water Prediction Service did not forecast flooding on the Cosumnes River. It predicted that the river would crest at 38 feet late on March 2, about 6 feet short of the level at which there would be flooding.

In the event of a winter power outage, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services advises wearing multiple layers of lightweight, warm clothing; closing curtains and covering windows and doors for insulation; carefully using a wood-burning or gas fireplace to stay warm; signing up for a medical baseline program for assistance if you rely on power for medical needs; and keep occupied with board games and other activities.

Additionally, the office of emergency services said not to use a generator in rain or wet conditions, and never to use charcoal or gas grills or propane heaters indoors.

The weather service and state traffic organizations focused their warnings on the snowy conditions, which are expected to descend lower than usual because of chilly air temperatures. NWS warned of blizzard conditions in the Sierra, a mix of strong wind and snow. California Highway Patrol discouraged unnecessary mountain travel and reminded motorists to slow down on wet roads.

While more rain and snow is expected after the weekend, the Central Valley will be shielded from the worst of the storm, the weather service stated in a forecast discussion posted on March 1.

“Most of the impacts will be felt in the Sierra, Southern Cascades, Coast Range, and the Foothills, with limited Valley rainfall thanks to shadowing (from the coastal range),” the weather service said.