A strong winter storm system is striking the Sierra Nevada this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued several winter storm warnings for the Sierra Nevada that call for up to 28 inches of snow and wind gusts reaching 100 mph. The agency is also predicting that the strong winds could cause power outages due to damage to trees and power lines, as residents have been warned to “stay home and stay safe.”
California’s Sierra Nevada and Parts of Nevada to Be Hit by Heavy Snow and High Winds
The National Weather Service (NWS) has active winter storm warnings through Sunday at 11 p.m., with some effects possibly lingering into Monday. The harshest conditions are striking parts of central California, the Northern Sierra Nevada, Western Plumas, Nevada’s Mono County, and the greater Lake Tahoe area.
In Nevada, wind gusts have been predicted to reach between 80 and 100 mph on the ridgetops and 40 mph elsewhere. Along the Sierra crest, snow totals of between 12 and 28 inches of snow are expected, while the Lake Tahoe area is facing six to 10 inches. Due to the high wind speeds in the Lake Tahoe area, the NWS is cautioning the public that there could be power outages as power lines and trees may be damaged.
In California, the Sierra Nevada is forecasted to be struck by up to 2 feet of snow at the highest peaks, 12 to 18 inches above 4,500 feet, and two to four inches below that. Additionally, parts of Central California should expect up to 14 inches of snow. All of the affected areas of California are also forecasted to face winds reaching 45 mph…