NOAA: “After 3 Weeks of Sun in California, Winter Will Return with VIGOR This Week”

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PIN = Mammoth mountain ski resort, CA. BLUE = Winter Storm Watch. image: noaa, today
PIN = Mammoth mountain ski resort, CA. BLUE = Winter Storm Watch. image: noaa, today

“After a few weeks of dry and mild weather for much of the region, wet weather is forecast to return with VIGOR later this week!” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today

After nothing but sun and heat for 17 days, California will return to its snowy, El Nino ways this week.  A storm will be hitting CA on Wednesday and Thursday.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 FEET POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000 FEET WITHUP TO 10 INCHES ABOVE 
5000 FEET TAPERING TO A COUPLE INCHES DOWN TO 3500 FEET. - NOAA Forecast for Lake Tahoe
Snowfall forecast map for Wed/Thurs in CA. RED = 18-24" forecast. image: noaa, today
Snowfall forecast map for Wed/Thurs in CA. RED = 18-24″ forecast. image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today

NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Watch nearly the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range.

1-2 feet of snow is forecast all over the Sierra Nevada on Wed/Thurs.

Snow levels are forecast to start around 6,500-feet before dropping to 4,000-feet.

* SNOW LEVELS...INITIALLY ABOVE 6500 FEET WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON,LOWERING TO AROUND 3500 
TO 4000 FEET THURSDAY MORNING. - NOAA forecast for Tahoe area
image: noaa, today
image: noaa, today
"We've issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Southern Sierra from Yosemite National Park to the Fresno/Tulare County line beginning at 10 am Wednesday. Snow levels will begin around 7,000 ft Wednesday and will drop to around 5,000 ft early Thursday. Within the watch area we're forecasting 12-18" of snow above 7,000 ft and 6-12" of snow above 5,000 ft. Gusty winds may accompany the snow. Hikers, campers, and tourists should be aware and weather-ready with the rapidly changing and deteriorating winter weather conditions with this system." - NOAA, Hanford, CA today
“We’ve issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Southern Sierra from Yosemite National Park to the Fresno/Tulare County line beginning at 10 am Wednesday. Snow levels will begin around 7,000 ft Wednesday and will drop to around 5,000 ft early Thursday. Within the watch area we’re forecasting 12-18″ of snow above 7,000 ft and 6-12″ of snow above 5,000 ft. Gusty winds may accompany the snow. Hikers, campers, and tourists should be aware and weather-ready with the rapidly changing and deteriorating winter weather conditions with this system.” – NOAA, Hanford, CA today

5 ski resorts in California have received over 300″ of snowfall this winter.

The California snowpack is currently sitting at 99% of average.

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WINTER STORM WATCH for CALIFORNIA:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1103 AM PST MON FEB 15 2016

SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SHAVER LAKE...YOSEMITE VALLEY

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA FROM YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK TO KINGS CANYON.

* SNOW LEVELS...STARTING OUT NEAR 7000 FEET WEDNESDAY AND LOWERING
TO AROUND 5000 FEET WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...12 TO 18 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET...6 TO 12
INCHES AT 5000 FEET.

* TIMING...THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY EVENING INTO
THURSDAY MORNING.

* LOCATIONS...HUNTINGTON LAKE...TUOLUMNE MEADOWS...SHAVER LAKE.

* IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS...TRAVEL DELAYS AND POSSIBLE ROAD
  CLOSURES...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH LOCAL WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS...DANGEROUS WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES OVER THE HIGHER
  ELEVATIONS.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH
  GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH ALONG THE SIERRA CREST.
Very high probability of snowfall in CA Wed/Thurs. image: noaa, today
Very high probability of snowfall in CA Wed/Thurs. image: noaa, today
Posted by WeatherBrains |

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One thought on “NOAA: “After 3 Weeks of Sun in California, Winter Will Return with VIGOR This Week””

  1. And then it will promptly return to near 60 degree weather, all the way into March…

    And now the snowpack is below average…again.

    The demise of California skiing continuse…

    Reply

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