National Weather Service forecasters are calling for wet weather to return to the Central Valley area midweek.

In a special advisory issued on Monday, forecasters noted that “after an extended dry period, wet weather returns midweek as a couple of Pacific storms move through.”

While the wet weather won’t bring too much in the way of measurable precipitation, it could signal the start of a series of winter storms headed toward the region. Precipitation is forecast to begin over the coastal and northern mountains Wednesday afternoon into evening, then spread over all of interior northern California Wednesday night into Thursday. Another storm is predicted to bring more widespread rain and mountain snow Thursday night into early Saturday.

Light to moderate precipitation is expected with these storms. Snow levels will generally remain at or above 7500 feet through Friday, lowering to 5500 to 6500 feet Saturday morning.

Threats of scattered showers, mainly over the mountains, may continue over the weekend.

Impacts could see slick roads with possible mountain travel delays.

Rainfall totals Wednesday into Saturday are expected to be around a quarter of an inch to one inch in the Central Valley, highest in the northern Sacramento Valley. In the foothills and mountains, totals are expected from around three quarters of an inch up to 2 inches.

Snowfall totals Wednesday into Saturday are expected to be generally around two to six inches above 7000 feet with local amounts up to a foot over the highest elevations.