"Wet conditions expected across much of the western U.S. over the next 3 days." - NOAA, today — “Wet conditions expected across much of the western U.S. over the next 3 days.” – NOAA, today

The Western USA is about to get slammed today, tomorrow, and Monday with the first in a “parade of storms” that will be coming off the Pacific Ocean.

So far, only California has snow advisories in place.

15" in CA in the next 3-days!!! That would = 15-feet of snow if it all came as snow... image: noaa, today — 15″ in CA in the next 3-days!!! That would = 15-feet of snow if it all came as snow… image: noaa, today

WEEKEND STORM HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEKEND:

2-4 feet of snow forecast in California
8-16″ of snow for Alta, UT
6-12″ of snow for Mt. Bachelor, OR
6-8″of snow in Colorado
4-7″ of snow for Grand Targhee, WY

So far, only CA has snow advisories in the Western US. PINK = Winter Storm Warning. image: noaa, today

Below we cover these states in this order:

California
Oregon
Washington
Idaho
Montana
Wyoming
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Arizona

Snow is probable all over the Western US Mon-Tues. image: noaa, today

CALIFORNIA:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
344 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016

...STRONG WINTER STORM THIS WEEKEND...

.A STRONG WINTER STORM IS MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
SNOW LEVELS WILL START ABOVE 7000 FEET TODAY...BUT RAPIDLY LOWER
TO BETWEEN 3500 AND 4500 FEET TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. PERIODS OF
HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WITH CHAIN CONTROLS AND HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL ARE EXPECTED DURING THAT TIME.

WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...BLUE CANYON

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING
TO 4 PM PST MONDAY...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

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

* TIMING...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* LOCATIONS...INTERSTATE 80...HIGHWAY 50...HIGHWAY 88.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE 4500 FEET...3 FEET OF
  SNOW OR GREATER POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHEST PEAKS.

* SNOW LEVELS...ABOVE 7000 FEET TODAY...LOWERING TO 3500 TO 4500
  FEET TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY.

"Strong storm system moving onshore will bring it all this weekend! Damaging winds, heavy rain, feet of mountain snow, and thunderstorms. The heaviest precipitation and strongest winds are expected this afternoon into evening. Are you prepared?" - NOAA Sacramento, CA today — “Strong storm system moving onshore will bring it all this weekend! Damaging winds, heavy rain, feet of mountain snow, and thunderstorms. The heaviest precipitation and strongest winds are expected this afternoon into evening. Are you prepared?” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today

"Forecast precipitation from Saturday morning through Monday afternoon in SoCal." - NOAA Hanford, CA today — “Forecast precipitation from Saturday morning through Monday afternoon in SoCal.” – NOAA Hanford, CA today

"Forecast snowfall for southern Sierra from Saturday morning through Monday afternoon." - NOAA Hanford, CA today — “Forecast snowfall for southern Sierra from Saturday morning through Monday afternoon.” – NOAA Hanford, CA today

OREGON:

Mt. Bachelor ski resort, OR forecast looking snowy. image: noaa, today

"The same storm that will bring windy conditions to the area on Saturday will also bring significant rain with it. The bulk of the rainfall will occur early Saturday morning through Sunday morning. Major river flooding is not a concern at this time. However, with heavy rainfall rates, small streams and creeks along with urban areas will have the potential to flood. Be ready for a wet and windy weekend!" - NOAA Medford, OR today — “The same storm that will bring windy conditions to the area on Saturday will also bring significant rain with it. The bulk of the rainfall will occur early Saturday morning through Sunday morning. Major river flooding is not a concern at this time. However, with heavy rainfall rates, small streams and creeks along with urban areas will have the potential to flood. Be ready for a wet and windy weekend!” – NOAA Medford, OR today

WASHINGTON:

"If Seattle didn't receive another drop of rain for the next 6 months and 26 days, the rainfall total since Oct 1st would still place us in the top 30% of wettest years dating back to 1894. It won't be difficult to display a festive shade of green for St. Patrick's Day this year." - NOAA Seattle, WA today — “If Seattle didn’t receive another drop of rain for the next 6 months and 26 days, the rainfall total since Oct 1st would still place us in the top 30% of wettest years dating back to 1894. It won’t be difficult to display a festive shade of green for St. Patrick’s Day this year.” – NOAA Seattle, WA today

"The wet and locally windy weather will continue into early Saturday morning. The Coast and Mountains could see around an inch or two of rain, while the Interior Lowlands are looking at a half inch or less. Expect strong south to southeast winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 for the Coast and North Interior. Other areas could see winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts of 30 to 40. Another front will bring more rain and wind for Saturday afternoon and night." - NOAA Seattle, WA today — “The wet and locally windy weather will continue into early Saturday morning. The Coast and Mountains could see around an inch or two of rain, while the Interior Lowlands are looking at a half inch or less. Expect strong south to southeast winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 for the Coast and North Interior. Other areas could see winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts of 30 to 40. Another front will bring more rain and wind for Saturday afternoon and night.” – NOAA Seattle, WA today

Mt. Baker ski area, MT forecast looking ok. image: noaa, today

IDAHO:

"Snow amounts for Sunday's storm" - NOAA Pocatello, ID today — “Snow amounts for Sunday’s storm” – NOAA Pocatello, ID today

"Total Precipitation through Monday Mar 7, 2016" - NOAA Boise, ID today — “Total Precipitation through Monday Mar 7, 2016” – NOAA Boise, ID today

MONTANA:

"More wet weather is expected this weekend with the most widespread precipitation on Sunday. Anyone participating in outdoor activities should be prepared for wet conditions, along with breezy and cooler weather on Sunday. Also the anticipated rainfall will increase the potential for localized mud and rock slides in central Idaho." - NOAA Missoula, MT yesterday — “More wet weather is expected this weekend with the most widespread precipitation on Sunday. Anyone participating in outdoor activities should be prepared for wet conditions, along with breezy and cooler weather on Sunday. Also the anticipated rainfall will increase the potential for localized mud and rock slides in central Idaho.” – NOAA Missoula, MT yesterday

Big Sky ski resort, MT forecast looking snowy. image: noaa, today — Big Sky ski resort, MT forecast looking ok. image: noaa, today

WYOMING:

Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
1232 PM MST SAT MAR 5 2016

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK-ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS-
TETON AND GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS-JACKSON HOLE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAKE...MAMMOTH...OLD FAITHFUL...JACKSON


...WET SNOW EXPECTED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS...

MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL BRING WET SNOW TO THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS
OF WYOMING SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SNOWFALL OF 4 TO 7
INCHES IS EXPECTED ABOVE 7500 FEET. ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK AND ICY
OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES. IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS RAIN OR A RAIN
AND SNOW MIX IS EXPECTED WITH LITTLE SNOW ACCUMULATION.

Grand Targhee ski resort, WY forecast looking snowy. image: noaa, today

UTAH:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
631 AM MST SAT MAR 5 2016

CACHE VALLEY/UTAH PORTION-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS-SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS-WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
WESTERN UINTA BASIN-CASTLE COUNTRY-SAN RAFAEL SWELL-
SANPETE/SEVIER VALLEYS-WEST CENTRAL UTAH-SOUTHWEST UTAH-
UTAHS DIXIE AND ZION NATIONAL PARK-SOUTH CENTRAL UTAH-
GLEN CANYON RECREATION AREA/LAKE POWELL-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST WYOMING-

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SOUTH WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE WESTERN VALLEYS OF UTAH
TODAY. THESE WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN FURTHER TONIGHT...WITH VERY
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM ADVANCING TOWARD UTAH WILL PUSH A STRONG
COLD FRONT ACROSS THE STATE ON SUNDAY. VERY STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS
IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL SWITCH TO THE NORTHWEST
AND REMAIN QUITE STRONG BEHIND THE FRONT UNTIL EARLY SUNDAY
EVENING.

SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST ALONG AND BEHIND THE
COLD FRONT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. A FEW OF THE STRONGER
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF GENERATING STRONG WINDS AND A
SHORT PERIOD OF INTENSE RAIN AND OR SNOW.

AREAS OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS COULD SEE SIGNIFICANT
SNOWFALL THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. AREAS MOST PRONE TO HEAVY
SNOW INCLUDE THE THE WASATCH RANGE AND THE NORTHERN PORTION OF
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. SEVERAL INCHES OF NEW SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN
THESE AREAS. ADJACENT VALLEY LOCATIONS WILL SEE A MIX OF RAIN AND
SNOW..THOUGH LITTLE ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED IN THE VALLEYS.

A COOL AND MOIST AIR MASS WILL REMAIN ACROSS MUCH OF THE OUTLOOK
AREA THROUGH MIDWEEK. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT RETURNING LATE IN THE
WEEK WILL BRING A WARMING TREND TO THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA.


A CHANGE TO A MORE ACTIVE
WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA BEGINNING
SUNDAY AND CONTINUING AT TIMES THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT
WEEK. A STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA
BEGINNING EARLY SUNDAY. SHOWERS ALONG WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED
ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY MONDAY.

COOL AND UNSETTLED CONDITIONS WILL EXIST ACROSS MUCH OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH MIDWEEK. A WARMING TREND WILL START UP AGAIN
THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT RETURNS TO THE REGION.