A major winter storm is set to hammer the Sierra and push into western Nevada starting Sunday, with dangerous travel and several feet of snow expected through midweek.
Forecasters say this will be a prolonged, two-part storm that begins Sunday night and intensifies again Tuesday. Sunday will be mild and breezy across the region, but conditions will deteriorate quickly after sunset. Anyone planning to cross the Sierra is urged to do so by early this afternoon before snow and strong winds take hold.
Snow is expected to reach northeast California Sunday evening and spread south along the Sierra overnight. By daybreak Monday, snowfall rates could increase to 1 to 2 inches per hour, especially along the Sierra crest from Lake Tahoe south into Mono County. Snow levels will start near 6,000 feet Sunday, then fall below 5,000 feet by Monday evening. During heavier bursts, snow levels could briefly dip even lower…