NOAA: Big Snow for California This Week | 10-20″ of Snow Forecast Monday

WeatherBrains |
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today

NOAA has issued Winter Weather Advisories all over California including Lake Tahoe, CA/NV that are forecasting a “strong cold front” to hit the California with very cold temperatures and 10-20″ of snow forecast in Tahoe tonight through Tuesday morning.

Snow levels are forecast to drop as low as 500 feet with this storm.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING: 5 TO 10
  INCHES, WITH 10 TO 20 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 89 TO THE
  SIERRA CREST. 1O TO 15 INCHES IN THE NORTHERN CARSON RANGE
  NEAR MOUNT ROSE. - NOAA Reno, NV today
Big snow forecast in CA next 5 days. image: noaa, today
Big snow forecast in CA next 5 days. image: noaa, today

NOAA is forecasting an even wetter storm to hit Lake Tahoe on Tuesday and Wednesday where they’re calling for 11-27″ those two days (see below).

screen-shot-2017-01-01-at-6-52-02-pm-min

11-27" of snow forecast Tuesday and Wednesday. image: noaa, today
11-27″ of snow forecast Tuesday and Wednesday. image: noaa, today

NOAA is talking about a moderate to strong Atomspheric River hitting Tahoe next weekend.  These Atmospheric Rivers haven’t been good to us this season bringing almost nothing but rain…  Big big big rain…

BUT, as of right now, NOAA is forecasting 6,000′ snow levels for Tahoe on Saturday, which works great.

- Widespread moisture Wednesday night into Thursday, then decreasing
precip chances (but not going fully dry) for Friday. Next weekend we
bring back high precip chances, with potential for large amounts of
rain and snow, as guidance is in relatively good agreement with
bringing a moderate-strong atmospheric river across the Sierra and
western NV.
- NOAA Reno, NV today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today

NOAA is forecasting 18-24″ of snow in the town of Truckee from January 1st – January 5th, 2016.

“Okay folks, lets talk snow totals for the week.

The first wave is moving into northeastern California right now with snow showers spreading.

This image shows the most likely range we can expect through Thursday. As you can see the higher accumulation east of the Sierra hang up north of Reno. This is a little different from yesterday where frontal forcing was a little farther south and included larger portions of the Reno area which is now a little more shadowed.

Still, totals will be decent even though this is over a longer 4-day period of time. The “best” time for snowfall remains Tuesday night with a more definitive pause in precipitation during the day on Tuesday. Prior to Tuesday night, only token accumulation of around an inch or so will fall. There are some lower likelihoods of higher totals than this image shows, but they will be more dependent on lake enhancement off of Lake Tahoe. If lake effect bands do set up, localized areas mainly west of Highway 395 could see a significant bump in totals. These areas include Genoa/Minden/Gardnerville, Washoe Valley, Galena, and Caughlin Ranch.

Precipitation will slow Tuesday in the Sierra as well, but there is much less of a definite pause with shower activity continuing. Travel will be difficult for much of the week over area passes. Have an alternate plan, carry chains, and keep emergency supplies if you are traveling over or in the Sierra. Note: although the range for Tahoe/Truckee says 18-24 inches, expect a wider range of 12-24 inches; a result of rounded totals for these areas. – NOAA Reno, NV today

Way above average
Way above average for CA this in the 6-10 outlook.  image:  noaa, today
PINK = Winter Storm Warning. PURPLE = Winter Weather Advisory. image: noaa, today
PINK = Winter Storm Warning. PURPLE = Winter Weather Advisory. image: noaa, today
13" of precipitation forecast for Lake Tahoe next 7 days.  That could equate to up to 13 feet of snow.  image:  noaa, today
13″ of precipitation forecast for Lake Tahoe next 7 days. That could equate to up to 13 feet of snow. image: noaa, today

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for CALIFORNIA:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
345 PM PST SUN JAN 1 2017

GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, TRUCKEE, STATELINE,
AND INCLINE VILLAGE

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS
EVENING TO 10 AM PST TUESDAY...

* TIMING: WIDESPREAD SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING. SNOW
  WILL CONTINUE, POSSIBLY INTENSIFYING MONDAY AFTERNOON AND
  EVENING, BEFORE TAPERING OFF TUESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING: 5 TO 10
  INCHES, WITH 10 TO 20 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 89 TO THE
  SIERRA CREST. 1O TO 15 INCHES IN THE NORTHERN CARSON RANGE
  NEAR MOUNT ROSE.

* WINDS: WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH MAY RESULT IN AREAS OF BLOWING
  SNOW WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY AND PERIODS OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
  WINDS WILL BE OVER 60 MPH FOR EXPOSED RIDGES.

* LAKE TAHOE: WIND GUSTS 35 TO 45 MPH THROUGH MONDAY. WAVE HEIGHT
  OF 2 TO 4 FEET POSSIBLE WITH HIGHEST WAVES FROM MID LAKE TO
  EASTERN SHORES.

* IMPACTS: SNOW WILL CAUSE SLICK SNOW COVERED ROADS WITH CHAIN OR
SNOW TIRE RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED. GUSTY WINDS COULD CAUSE AREAS
OF LOW VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING SNOW WITH NEAR WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS AT TIMES.

image: noaa, yesterday
image: noaa, yesterday
Snow all over the Western USA next two days. PINK = Winter Storm Warning. PURPLE = Winter Weather Advisory. image: noaa, today
Snow all over the Western USA next two days. PINK = Winter Storm Warning. PURPLE = Winter Weather Advisory. image: noaa, today
15874811_1232652583437414_5966613496128606613_o-min
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today

 


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