Freeze warnings issued for Northern California. How long will the cold last?

Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, The Sacramento Bee on Feb 19, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley. Fresno has been issued a freeze watch.

This warning comes after the intense winter storm that fell upon the Sierra Nevada. The winter storm resulted in a deadly avalanche and the deaths of about eight people, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting.

Here’s what to know:

—When will temperatures drop in the Sacramento Valley?

The freeze warning and cold weather advisory will be in effect from midnight to 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, according to the National Weather Service.

Sub-freezing temperatures are expected to linger Friday morning, dropping as low as 20 degrees. The advisory includes Marysville, Yuba City, Red Bluff, Oroville, Chico, Redding and Sacramento.

The weather service said residents should use caution when traveling outside during the freeze warning as temperatures could drop low enough to cause frostbite or hypothermia with prolonged exposure.

“Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Make sure outdoor animals have a warm, dry shelter, food and unfrozen water,” it said in the advisory. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”

—How cold will it get in Modesto?

The San Joaquin Valley also received a freeze warning Thursday.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer than the Sacramento Valley, predicted to reach as low as 28 degrees overnight.

“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation,” it said in the advisory.

—How long will the cold last?

While the freeze warnings are set to expire at 9 a.m. Friday, “mostly dry and colder temperatures” are expected to linger Friday and Saturday. The National Weather Service Sacramento expects cold overnight temperatures early Saturday as well.

The weather service said in its forecast temperatures are expected to rise Sunday before rain returns to the Sacramento Valley on Monday. Rain is expected in the northern San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday.