California
California Facing Three Days Of ‘Extremely Dangerous’ Blizzard Conditions In Sierra Nevada—Up To 12 Feet Of Snow
Topline
Forecasters are warning California residents not to travel in the Sierra Nevada mountains for the next three days, as a potentially historic blizzard that could last through Saturday threatens a large region with up to 12 feet of snow and devastating winds.
The potentially devastating storm will likely last until Sunday, forecasters said.
Key Facts
Northern and eastern California will see heavy to extremely heavy snowfall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, forecasters at the National Weather Service said, as well as heavy rainfall and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hourâcreating three days of hazardous blizzard conditions.
The storm is expected to weaken by Sunday, but snow showers are still possible in the Sierra Nevadaâs mountaintops through Monday, the agency said.
The blizzard conditions are expected to extend as far east as Lake Tahoe and parts of Nevadaâincluding Reno and other parts of Washoe County, which could see up to 10 inches of snow by Sunday.
In total, California is expected to see 1 to 4 feet of snow in areas above 3000 feet, 5 to 10 feet above 5,000 feet, and 12 feet or more on the Sierra Nevadaâs mountaintops.
The NWS is warning travelers of âextremely dangerous to impossible travel conditionsâ throughout roads in the region, which could see white-outs with near zero visibility, as well as tree damage and power outages caused by winds.
The storm system entered the Pacific Northwest and crossed the state border into northern California early on Thursday morning, the NWS station in Sacramento said in an update on X.
Key Background
The current storm will likely be the largest California has seen so far this year, but it comes on the heels of a historic year for snow in the Golden State. In water year 2023, California recorded its second-snowiest winter on record, with over 700 inches over the course of the season. The historic snowfall caused avalanches, flooding and mudslides, but also improved drought conditions for many parts of the state. Compared to last yearâs winter season, the Sierra Nevada has experienced a significant snow drought, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported in their most recent update on the state. As of February 15, most of the mountain range was reporting less than 70% of its normal snow water equivalent. However, a recent series of storms have added significant amounts of snow to the mountain range, the Los Angeles Times reported last week, and this weekendâs storm is expected to add even more to that total.
Tangent
California is not the only part of the United States expecting early March snow this year. Central New York is also bracing for potential blizzard conditions on Thursday as lake-effect snow and high winds threaten Rochester and Syracuse. Forecasters at the NWS are currently predicting the area will see between 6 to 11 inches of snow over the course of the day. That snow will be blown onto roadways by wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour, which will create âvery difficultâ travel conditions. A small craft advisory was also issued for the coast of Lake Ontario, which could see waves as large as 9 to 12 feet and more heavy winds up to 34 miles per hour until Friday morning.
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