According to the National Weather Service’s latest forecast, a powerful storm system is sweeping across our region, bringing a mix of conditions—from widespread rain and heavy mountain snow to gusty winds and isolated thunderstorms—through Tuesday evening. With significant snowfall accumulating, those living above 3500 feet in the northern Sierra and southern Cascades should be mindful of the 85-100% probability of more than 12 inches of snow and a 50-95% chance of exceeding 24 inches.
Drivers should prepare to navigate challenging conditions, as snow levels are expected to drop. Initially, they are set to fall from 5000-6500 feet, to around 3000-4000 feet by Monday evening, and then down to approximately 3000 feet by early Tuesday. The Winter Storm Warning has also been extended to the northern Coastal Range and Shasta County mountains, where there’s a 50-90% probability of snowfall greater than 12 inches above 3500 feet. In addition, the Valley and foothills will be hit with wind gusts up to 30-40 mph today, particularly strong this afternoon—a reminder to strongly consider securing any loose outdoor items.
For those looking to the skies, the aviation report suggests varying conditions depending on altitude. Lower levels, including the Valley and adjacent foothills, can generally expect VFR/MVFR conditions despite the rain and potential thunderstorms. Up above in higher elevations, the challenges are more pronounced with moderate to heavy snowfall expected, as well as gusts that could reach 55 kts over the mountains. These conditions are liable to result in areas of MVFR/IFR and possibly localized LIFR over the next 24 hours…