NOAA: Special Weather Statement for California | 2 Storms This Weekend To Drop Big High Elevation Snow

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Boreal, CA on October 17th, 2016. photo: boreal
Boreal, CA on October 17th, 2016. photo: boreal

NOAA is calling for 2 strong storms to impact California this weekend.

Snow levels will start high around 10,000′ in the Lake Tahoe region on Thursday before dropping to around 7,500′ by Sunday.

56-81″ of snow is forecast on Mt. Shasta, CA in the next 4 days.  People were skiing 3,500-vertical-foot powder runs on Shasta last week.

People have already been skiing on 10,761′ Mt. Rose in Lake Tahoe already as well and Mt. Rose ski resort is planning to open on Monday, October 31st, 2016.

56-81" of snow forecast on Mt. Shasta, CA next 4 days. image: noaa, today

screen-shot-2016-10-26-at-3-10-35-pm
56-81″ of snow forecast on Mt. Shasta, CA next 4 days. image: noaa, today

Right now, the 6-10 day, 8-14 day, and 3-4 week outlooks all show above average precipitation falling in California (see outlooks below).

Check out what Meteorologist Dr. Ryan Maue just said about the pattern that is currently setting up in California:

Is this a turning point in California’s drought? Strong Pacific jet & storm tracks w/copious moisture (atmospheric rivers) next 1-3 weeks.” – Dr. Ryan Maue, Meteorologist, today

GFS forecast model showing decent amounts of snowfall in California
GFS forecast model showing decent amounts of snowfall in California

Storm #1: Thursday-Friday:

  SNOW LEVELS WILL BE GENERALLY 9,500-10,000 FEET, WITH ONLY THE
  HIGHEST PASSES SUCH AS TIOGA AND SONORA IMPACTED. HEAVY WET SNOW
  WILL RAPIDLY ACCUMULATE ON SIERRA PEAKS ABOVE 10,000 FEET.
  - NOAA Reno, NV today

Storm #2:  Saturday-Sunday

  HEAVY RAIN WITH HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED
  TO START 7,000-8,500 FEET SUNDAY MORNING, FALLING TO 6,500-7,500
  FEET BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS MAY LOWER AN
  ADDITIONAL 500 FEET BY SUNDAY NIGHT. PERIODS OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE
  ON ALL SIERRA PASSES SUNDAY AND IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR TRAVEL
  DELAYS AND CHAIN CONTROLS.
  - NOAA Reno, NV today
Up to 8.3" of precipitation forecast for California in the next 5 days. image: noaa, today
Up to 8.3″ of precipitation forecast for California in the next 5 days. image: noaa, today

Winds may be as high as 90mph on Sierra ridges on Saturday-Sunday.

* WINDS: SIERRA RIDGES GUSTING 80 TO 90 MPH WITH VALLEYS GUSTING
  30 TO 35 MPH. - NOAA Reno, NV today
image:  noaa hanford, ca today
image: noaa hanford, ca today

“Periods of rain and high elevation snow are expected late Thursday into the weekend. There may be a short break Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. Snow levels will be very high with the first system with all Sierra passes remaining wet. However, colder air will allow snow levels to drop to Sierra passes Saturday night into Sunday with increased potential for travel impacts.” – NOAA Reno, NV today

image: noaa reno, nv today
image: noaa reno, nv today

The 6-10 day, 8-14 day, and 3-4 week outlooks all show above average precipitation falling in California:

***

6-10 DAY OUTLOOK:

6-10 day precipitation outlook showing above average precipitation forecast for CA. image: noaa, today
6-10 day precipitation outlook showing above average precipitation forecast for CA. image: noaa, today

8-14 DAY OUTLOOK:

8-14 day precipitation outlook showing above average precipitation forecast for CA. image: noaa, today
8-14 day precipitation outlook showing above average precipitation forecast for CA. image: noaa, today

3-4 WEEK OUTLOOK:

3-4 week precipitation outlook showing above average precipitation forecast for CA. image: noaa, today
3-4 week precipitation outlook showing above average precipitation forecast for CA. image: noaa, today

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT for CALIFORNIA:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
107 PM PDT WED OCT 26 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...STATELINE...GLENBROOK...INCLINE VILLAGE...SPARKS...
VERDI...GARDNERVILLE...VIRGINIA CITY...FERNLEY...FALLON...
LOVELOCK...SILVER SPRINGS...NIXON...IMLAY...EMPIRE...GERLACH

...WET WEATHER THE END OF THE WEEK AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND...

TWO STORMS WILL AFFECT THE REGION THE END OF THE WEEK AND THROUGH
THE WEEKEND - THE FIRST THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY, AND THE
SECOND SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT TO
EXPECT:

*** STORM ONE - THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY ***

* HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE TRAVEL DELAYS, ESPECIALLY FOR
  THOSE CROSSING THE SIERRA. THE PEAK PERIOD FOR HEAVIEST
  RAINFALL LOOKS TO BE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. RAIN WILL SPILLOVER
  INTO WESTERN NEVADA AS WELL, SO BE PREPARED FOR A SLOWER COMMUTE
  FRIDAY MORNING WITH PONDING WATER ON ROADWAYS POSSIBLE.

* A MAJOR CONCERN WILL BE HEAVY RAIN CAUSING DEBRIS FLOWS OR ROCK
  SLIDE ON RECENT BURN SCARS. ANYONE WITH INTERESTS NEAR THE
  EMERALD FIRE, LITTLE VALLEY FIRE, OR MARINA FIRE BURN SCARS
  SHOULD BE PREPARED. RISES ON RIVERS ARE ALSO LIKELY, BUT
  FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED ON MAINSTEM RIVERS.

* SNOW LEVELS WILL BE GENERALLY 9,500-10,000 FEET, WITH ONLY THE
  HIGHEST PASSES SUCH AS TIOGA AND SONORA IMPACTED. HEAVY WET SNOW
  WILL RAPIDLY ACCUMULATE ON SIERRA PEAKS ABOVE 10,000 FEET.

*** STORM TWO - SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY ***

* HEAVY RAIN WITH HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED
  TO START 7,000-8,500 FEET SUNDAY MORNING, FALLING TO 6,500-7,500
  FEET BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS MAY LOWER AN
  ADDITIONAL 500 FEET BY SUNDAY NIGHT. PERIODS OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE
  ON ALL SIERRA PASSES SUNDAY AND IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR TRAVEL
  DELAYS AND CHAIN CONTROLS.

* RAIN WILL ONCE AGAIN SPILLOVER INTO WESTERN NEVADA, BUT WILL NOT
  BE AS HEAVY AS WITH THE FIRST STORM.

* WINDS: SIERRA RIDGES GUSTING 80 TO 90 MPH WITH VALLEYS GUSTING
  30 TO 35 MPH.

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