NOAA: Special Weather Statement for California Today | Snow Forecast Down to 6,500′

NOAA has issued a Special Weather Statment for California today that is calling for snow above 8.500′ today dropping to 6,500′ this evening and tomorrow morning.

Tahoe and Mammoth have already gotten snow up high (see photos above).

“Snow levels are expected to drop to around pass levels late this afternoon [7,200′], then drop further to around 6500 feet by Monday morning.” – NOAA Reno, NV today

“Rain will change to snow over the higher elevations of the southern Sierra early this evening and continue into Monday morning. Snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are likely at and above 8,000 feet during this time.” – NOAA Hanford, CA today

SNOWFALL, POSSIBLY
  SIGNIFICANT, WILL BE LIMITED TO PASSES ABOVE 8500 FEET
  ELEVATION THROUGH TONIGHT. A PERIOD OF WET SNOW IS POSSIBLE
  AROUND THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE FOR MORE HEAVILY TRAVELED
  PASSES SUCH AS DONNER. - NOAA Reno, NV today

Tahoe ski resorts have some snow on the ground today (see photo of Mt. Rose above).  

Mammoth has a few inches of snow up top today (see photo above).

“One wet system will bring lingering showers over the area this morning, especially south of I80. The last of the series of wet weather systems will arrive this afternoon, bringing periods of rain, the potential for afternoon thunderstorms, and increasing winds. Expect slick roads, clogged drains, gusty winds with downed branches, and high elevation snow.
Snow levels are expected to drop to around pass levels late this afternoon, then drop further to around 6500 feet by Monday morning. Accumulating snow will cause travel difficulties around Sierra passes and Lassen Park, especially late Sunday night and early Monday morning.” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT for CALIFORNIA:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
259 AM PDT SUN OCT 16 2016

CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-162300-
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
259 AM PDT SUN OCT 16 2016

...ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...

THE LAST IN A SERIES OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS WILL AFFECT THE
REGION TODAY THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF
KEY IMPACTS FOR THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA.

* STRONG GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN TODAY, HOWEVER
  THEY SHOULD BE LESS INTENSE THAN FRIDAY OR SATURDAY`S WINDS.
  IMPACTS WILL STILL BE FELT HOWEVER. HAZARDOUS ROAD TRAVEL WILL
  EXIST IN WIND PRONE AREAS, AND AIR TRAVEL COULD SEE DELAYS DUE
  TO WINDS AND TURBULENCE. SOME MINOR FENCE OR TREE DAMAGE IS
  POSSIBLE. TREE FALLS ARE POSSIBLE IN MOUNTAIN AREAS THAT HAVE
  SEEN HEAVY RAIN THE PAST COUPLE DAYS.

* PLAN ON EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL IN THE SIERRA DUE TO PERIODS OF
  HEAVY RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION SNOW THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
  HYDROPLANING AND LOW VISIBILITY ARE LIKELY IN HEAVY RAIN.
  PERIODS OF INTENSE RAINFALL MAY CREATE MUD OR ROCK SLIDES ON
  SIERRA OR NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA ROADS. SNOWFALL, POSSIBLY
  SIGNIFICANT, WILL BE LIMITED TO PASSES ABOVE 8500 FEET
  ELEVATION THROUGH TONIGHT. A PERIOD OF WET SNOW IS POSSIBLE
  AROUND THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE FOR MORE HEAVILY TRAVELED
  PASSES SUCH AS DONNER.

* FOR WESTERN NEVADA INCLUDING THE RENO AND CARSON CITY AREAS,
  HEAVY SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS
  COULD RESULT IN URBAN/POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING. MAKE SURE STORM
  DRAINS AND GUTTERS ARE CLEARED OUT. INCREASED FLOWS ALONG THE
  TRUCKEE AND CARSON RIVERS ARE EXPECTED.

* INTERESTS ALONG RIVERS, STREAMS, AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IN THE
  SIERRA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA SHOULD ANTICIPATE INCREASED
  WATER FLOWS. PLAN ON SOME MINOR FLOODING OF LOW SPOTS AND POOR
  DRAINAGE AREAS. FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS MAY OCCUR NEAR
  RECENT FIRES IN WASHOE VALLEY AND EMERALD BAY.