NOAA: “High Condfidence” in 2-4 Feet of Snow in SoCal & 1-3 Feet of Snow in NorCal by Monday

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NOAA is forecasting 4-5" of liquid precipitation for Lake Tahoe, CA in the next 5 days. If that all came as snow it would equal 4-5 feet of snow... image: noaa, today
NOAA is forecasting 4-5″ of liquid precipitation for Lake Tahoe, CA in the next 5 days. If that all came as snow it would equal 4-5 feet of snow… image: noaa, today

NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Warning & a Special Weather Statement for the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains that is calling for 1-3 feet of snow above 7,000-feet by Monday.

* SIERRA ABOVE 7000 FEET...1 TO 3 FEET. (HIGH CONFIDENCE) - NOAA Reno, NV today


* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...8 TO 16 INCHES ABOVE 5000 FEET... 2 TO 3
  FEET OF SNOW POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHEST PEAKS. - NOAA Reno, NV today

NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains that is calling for 2-4 feet of snow above 8,000-feet by Monday.  All of Mammoth Mountain is above 8,000-feet.

* SNOW TOTALS...2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE 8000 FEET WITH AMOUNTS OF UP TO
  A FOOT AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. - NOAA Hanford, CA today
"Hold onto your hats....we expect a very gusty Saturday!" - NOAA Reno, NV today
“Hold onto your hats….we expect a very gusty Saturday!” – NOAA Reno, NV today

Winds will be very strong with this storm so expect upper mountains and maybe total mountain closures this weekend.

RIDGE GUSTS EXCEEDING 100 MPH WILL IMPACT OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES IN THE HIGH SIERRA AND PERIODS OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED [on Saturday]. - NOAA Reno, NV today
"Very wet weather this weekend! Potential for heavy snow, flooding, power outages, rock slides along mountain roads, and hazardous travel." - NOAA Sacramento, CA today
“Very wet weather this weekend! Potential for heavy snow, flooding, power outages, rock slides along mountain roads, and hazardous travel.” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today

California’s mountains are about to get buried in snow and this is only the beginning.  NOAA’s long range hazard forecast is calling for heavy snow in California from March 6-7th and March 11-14th (see ‘hazard outlook’ images below).

Miracle March appears to be on tap for California this year.  Get ready…

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE
REGION THIS WEEKEND...WITH AN INITIAL PERIOD OF HIGH SIERRA SNOW
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH STRONG WINDS OUT INTO WESTERN NEVADA
ON SATURDAY. ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF SNOW AND RAIN WILL DEVELOP
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. ALTHOUGH FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS
HIGH, EXACT DETAILS OF TIMING AND SNOW AMOUNTS MAY STILL CHANGE.

SNOW...
SNOW WILL BEGIN IN THE HIGH SIERRA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE
INTO EARLY MONDAY. DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH THE COLD FRONT TIMING 
AND THE LOWERINGSNOW LEVELS...SNOW TOTALS BELOW 6500 FEET WILL 
BE TRICKY. - NOAA Reno, NV today
"A strong winter storm will impact the Sierra this weekend. An initial period of high Sierra snow is expected as early as Friday evening along with strong winds out in western Nevada Saturday. A strong cold front will quickly drop snow levels to near western Nevada valley floors by Sunday morning during which the heaviest snowfall is expected in the Sierra. A second burst of moderate to heavy snowfall is possible Sunday night into Monday morning which may result in accumulating snow and travel impacts on western Nevada valley floors for the Monday morning commute. Snow showers will linger through Monday with a break in the action through Thursday with another storm possible by next Friday." - NOAA Reno, NV today
“A strong winter storm will impact the Sierra this weekend. An initial period of high Sierra snow is expected as early as Friday evening along with strong winds out in western Nevada Saturday.
A strong cold front will quickly drop snow levels to near western Nevada valley floors by Sunday morning during which the heaviest snowfall is expected in the Sierra.
A second burst of moderate to heavy snowfall is possible Sunday night into Monday morning which may result in accumulating snow and travel impacts on western Nevada valley floors for the Monday morning commute. Snow showers will linger through Monday with a break in the action through Thursday with another storm possible by next Friday.” – NOAA Reno, NV today
"More snow for our mountains as a strong winter storm moves inland this weekend. Mountain travel will be hazardous, especially on Saturday. Snow levels will start above 7000 ft then lower to around 4000 ft by late Sat/early Sun." - NOAA Sacramento, CA today
“More snow for our mountains as a strong winter storm moves inland this weekend. Mountain travel will be hazardous, especially on Saturday. Snow levels will start above 7000 ft then lower to around 4000 ft by late Sat/early Sun.” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today

7 CALIFORNIA SKI RESORTS WITH OVER 300″ of SNOWFALL THIS SEASON:

  • Sugar Bowl = 382″
  • Sierra at Tahoe = 347″
  • Boreal = 345″
  • Northstar = 338″
  • Kirkwood = 328″
  • Squaw Valley = 324″
  • Alpine Meadows = 315″

The coming “parade of storms” should boost many of these California snowfall totals into the 400″ range and above.

California’s statewide snowpack was at 114% of average a month ago and now is at only 72-80% of average to date.

Statewide snowpack at 72-80% of average to date. image: nws, today
Statewide snowpack at 72-80% of average to date. image: nws, today

WINTER STORM WATCH for NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
125 PM PST THU MAR 3 2016

...STRONG WINTER STORM THIS WEEKEND...

.A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL INITIALLY START ABOVE
7000 FEET, BUT RAPIDLY LOWER TO BETWEEN 3500 AND 5000 FEET
SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY. PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY
WINDS WITH CHAIN CONTROLS AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ARE POSSIBLE DURING
THAT TIME.

WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-
WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHESTER...QUINCY...BLUE CANYON

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE
  HAZARDOUS TRAVEL AND CHAIN CONTROLS.

* TIMING...SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* LOCATIONS...LASSEN NATIONAL PARK...INTERSTATE 80...HIGHWAY
  50...HIGHWAY 88.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...8 TO 16 INCHES ABOVE 5000 FEET... 2 TO 3
  FEET OF SNOW POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHEST PEAKS.

* SNOW LEVELS...ABOVE 7000 FEET ON SATURDAY...LOWERING TO 3500 TO
  5000 FEET SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
BLUE = Winter Storm Watch. image: noaa, today
BLUE = Winter Storm Watch. image: noaa, today

WINTER STORM WATCH for SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1249 PM PST THU MAR 3 2016

SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SHAVER LAKE...YOSEMITE VALLEY...
CAMP NELSON...GIANT FOREST...JOHNSONDALE...LODGEPOLE

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA FROM YOSEMITE NATIONAL
PARK TO THE KERN COUNTY LINE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON.

* SNOW TOTALS...2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE 8000 FEET WITH AMOUNTS OF UP TO
  A FOOT AT LOWER ELEVATIONS.

* SNOW LEVELS...STARTING OUT AROUND 8000 FEET SATURDAY EVENING
  THEN LOWERING TO 4000 FEET BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS WILL
  REMAIN CLOSE TO 4000 FEET FOR THE REST OF SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

* IMPACTS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH LOCAL WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS...HAZARDOUS WINTER TRAVEL...POSSIBLE ROAD CLOSURES...
  CHAIN REQUIREMENTS.
"The Climate Prediction Center forecasts above average precipitation through at least mid-March!" - NOAA Sacramento, CA yesterday
“The Climate Prediction Center forecasts above average precipitation through at least mid-March!” – NOAA Sacramento, CA yesterday

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT for CALIFORNIA:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
217 AM PST THU MAR 3 2016

SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-
EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-MONO COUNTY-
MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-
MINDEN AREA-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-
NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDARVILLE...EAGLEVILLE...
FORT BIDWELL...PORTOLA...SUSANVILLE...WESTWOOD...SIERRAVILLE...
LOYALTON...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TAHOE CITY...TRUCKEE...
MARKLEEVILLE...BRIDGEPORT...COLEVILLE...LEE VINING...
MAMMOTH LAKES...HAWTHORNE...YERINGTON...SMITH VALLEY...MINA...
SCHURZ...GLENBROOK...INCLINE VILLAGE...SPARKS...VERDI...
GARDNERVILLE...VIRGINIA CITY...FERNLEY...FALLON...LOVELOCK...
SILVER SPRINGS...NIXON...IMLAY...EMPIRE...GERLACH

...WINTER WEATHER RETURNS THIS WEEKEND...

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE
REGION THIS WEEKEND...WITH AN INITIAL PERIOD OF HIGH SIERRA SNOW
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH STRONG WINDS OUT INTO WESTERN NEVADA
ON SATURDAY. ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF SNOW AND RAIN WILL DEVELOP
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. ALTHOUGH FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS
HIGH, EXACT DETAILS OF TIMING AND SNOW AMOUNTS MAY STILL CHANGE.

SATURDAY WINDS...
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS 40 TO 60 MPH WILL AFFECT DRIVERS OF
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND RESULT IN INCREASED TURBULENCE FOR
AIRCRAFT. LAKE WATERS WILL ALSO BE ROUGH AND HAZARDOUS FOR
BOATERS. RIDGE GUSTS EXCEEDING 100 MPH WILL IMPACT OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES IN THE HIGH SIERRA AND PERIODS OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED. DROUGHT STRESSED TREES IN THE SIERRA WILL BE PRONE
TO DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY BE BLOWN OVER FROM THESE STRONG WINDS.

SNOW...
SNOW WILL BEGIN IN THE HIGH SIERRA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE
INTO EARLY MONDAY. THE FOLLOWING ARE CURRENT SNOWFALL PROJECTIONS.
DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH THE COLD FRONT TIMING AND THE LOWERING
SNOW LEVELS...SNOW TOTALS BELOW 6500 FEET WILL BE TRICKY.

    * SIERRA ABOVE 7000 FEET...1 TO 3 FEET. (HIGH CONFIDENCE)
    * SIERRA BETWEEN 6000 AND 7000 FEET...UP TO 12 INCHES...WITH
      HEAVIEST AMOUNTS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 89. (MEDIUM
      CONFIDENCE)
    * FOOTHILLS AND SIERRA VALLEYS BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 FEET...UP
      TO 6 INCHES. (LOW CONFIDENCE)
    * BELOW 5000 FEET...UP TO A COUPLE INCHES. (LOW CONFIDENCE)

SNOW COVERED ROADS ARE LIKELY OVER HIGHER SIERRA PASSES BY
SATURDAY...AND ALL SIERRA PASSES SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. SNOW
WILL EXPAND THROUGHOUT THE TAHOE BASIN, EASTERN SIERRA, AND EVEN
THE LOWER VALLEYS OF WESTERN NEVADA BY THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE.
EXPECT CHAIN CONTROLS AND LONG TRAVEL DELAYS IN THE SIERRA
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

MORE MIRACLE MARCH INFO for CALIFORNIA:

NOAA is forecasting "Heavy Snow" for California March 6-7th.  image:  noaa, today
NOAA is forecasting “Heavy Snow” for California March 6-7th.  image:  noaa, today
NOAA is forecasting "Heavy Snow" in California from March 11-14th.  image:  noaa, today
NOAA is forecasting “Heavy Snow” in California from March 11-14th.  image:  noaa, today
7-day forecast for Squaw Valley, CA. image: noaa, today
7-day forecast for Squaw Valley, CA. image: noaa, today
"Wet storm pattern ahead through at least the weekend. Here is a 3 day total of estimated incoming precipitation through 4 am Sunday." - NOAA Sacramento, CA today
“Wet storm pattern ahead through at least the weekend. Here is a 3 day total of estimated incoming precipitation through 4 am Sunday.” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today
"Some areas of the Southern Sierra will need a yardstick to measure the snow with this weekend's storm. Areas above 8,000 feet may approach 2 to 3 feet, possibly 4 feet of snow!" - NOAA Hanford, CA today
“Some areas of the Southern Sierra will need a yardstick to measure the snow with this weekend’s storm. Areas above 8,000 feet may approach 2 to 3 feet, possibly 4 feet of snow!” – NOAA Hanford, CA today
"Here is the latest precipitation forecast through Monday for Central California. Many foothill locations in Tulare, Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties will receive 2-4 inches of rain or more. As a result, a flash flood watch goes into effect for these locations at 9 pm PST Friday. " - NOAA Hanford, CA today
“Here is the latest precipitation forecast through Monday for Central California. Many foothill locations in Tulare, Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties will receive 2-4 inches of rain or more. As a result, a flash flood watch goes into effect for these locations at 9 pm PST Friday. ” – NOAA Hanford, CA today
"Plenty off runoff associated with Saturday's storm system is expected to push points along the Sacramento and Cosumnes Rivers into Monitor Stage." - NOAA Sacramento, CA today
“Plenty off runoff associated with Saturday’s storm system is expected to push points along the Sacramento and Cosumnes Rivers into Monitor Stage.” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today
"High-impact winter storm forecast this weekend for Central California. We have issued a Winter Storm Watch for the southern Sierra from Yosemite National Park to the Kern County line beginning at 9 pm on Saturday. Snow levels will start high and many locations will experience rain to start off on Saturday. Because of the threat of heavy rain, we have issued a Flash Flood Watch in the Sierra Foothills. Storm total of 2-4 FEET of snow is expected above 8,000 feet, and 2-4 or more inches of rain is expected below 6,000 feet. Now is the time to prepare for this high-impact system." - NOAA Hanford, CA today
“High-impact winter storm forecast this weekend for Central California. We have issued a Winter Storm Watch for the southern Sierra from Yosemite National Park to the Kern County line beginning at 9 pm on Saturday. Snow levels will start high and many locations will experience rain to start off on Saturday. Because of the threat of heavy rain, we have issued a Flash Flood Watch in the Sierra Foothills. Storm total of 2-4 FEET of snow is expected above 8,000 feet, and 2-4 or more inches of rain is expected below 6,000 feet. Now is the time to prepare for this high-impact system.” – NOAA Hanford, CA today
Posted by WeatherBrains |

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5 thoughts on “NOAA: “High Condfidence” in 2-4 Feet of Snow in SoCal & 1-3 Feet of Snow in NorCal by Monday”

  2. Did you used to work for Unofficial Networks?

    Because this is a ton of copy and paste material.

    Reply

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