Weather
NWS snow forecast. Source: maps.weatherbell.com
Forecast Summary
Forecast written on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 6 p.m. MST
A strong cold front moves in from the NW on Saturday.
Winds pick up Saturday morning and peak midday, with gusts of 40-50 mph expected.
Steady rain/snow begins in the morning, becoming heavier in the afternoon, and ending overnight.
A quick 1-2″ of precip hits CA tomorrow. Source: maps.weatherbell.com
A potent low-pressure system off the coast of Oregon moves SE and makes landfall over the Oregon-California border tonight.ย As this system runs into significant topography, mainly the coast and the Sierra, it will produce heavy rain and snow. An inch or two of precipitation is expected to fall over most of the Sierra in ~24 hours.
Very unseasonably cold air arrives Saturday night behind the cold front. Source: maps.weatherbell.com
A cold front sweeps in close to noon on Saturday, dropping temperatures by 15+ degrees. The dramatic temperature change will generate strong winds ahead of the front, and will drop snow levelsย to as low as 3,000′ before drying out.
Temperatures will be 20-25 degrees below normal on Sunday morning. Source: maps.weatherbell.com
Snow will be heavy in the afternoon/evening, with snowfall rates in excess of 1″/hr expected at times.ย
Estimated snow totals for the resorts that are still open in CA:
- Donner Ski Ranch: 14-24″
- Palisades: 10-20″
- Mammoth: 7-15″
Extended Outlook
While weather remains a bit unsettled for the next few days, a much quieter and warmer pattern settles in by the middle of next week.
Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/
