The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a weather warning in California due to the threat of an early spring storm. This storm is expected to bring up to 4 feet of snow to high-elevation areas near Sacramento, which could potentially impact travel.
Just a few weeks after a powerful snowstorm hammered California, another storm is on its way. The previous storm dumped over 100 inches of snow in higher elevation regions.
California has experienced heavy winter rainfall, with several cities already exceeding their yearly average. Although spring has arrived, more snow is expected in the Golden State, potentially causing travel disruptions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the warning during the early morning hours on Friday, and it will remain in effect until early Sunday.
The weather alert predicted heavy snowfall, with a potential accumulation of 1 to 3 feet. In addition, gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 45 mph were expected. The advisory warned that travel would be challenging due to delays, snow-covered roads, and the need for chain controls. Furthermore, the strong winds posed a risk of tree branches falling down.
Snowfall in the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada, specifically on routes like Interstate 80 over Donner Pass and Highway 50 over Echo Summit, has the potential to accumulate more than 4 feet.
The warning advised travelers to carry an additional flashlight, food, and water in their vehicles as a precautionary measure for emergencies.
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NWS meteorologist Chelsea Peters expressed that the primary concern with the impending storm is travel. In an interview with Newsweek, Peters mentioned that the most intense snowfall is expected to occur on Friday night, specifically after 7 p.m. local time. During this time, snow will be falling at a rapid rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour.
According to Peters, the snowfall is expected to be limited to tonight. He mentioned that the majority of the snow will accumulate above elevations of 5,500 to 6,000 feet.
A winter weather warning was issued for Northern California, as well as the eastern part of the state along the Nevada border. Additionally, a wind advisory was issued for a significant area in the southern part of the state.
The storm’s radar progression was shared by the NWS office in Sacramento in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
According to the post, NorCal can expect periods of showers, isolated thunderstorms, and mountain snow spreading over the area starting on Friday and lasting through the weekend.
Winter storms are set to hit the Sacramento region once again early next week. Another storm is predicted to start on Tuesday afternoon, with the likelihood of more snow. Furthermore, there is a possibility of a third storm affecting the region later in the week, although specific information about it is still uncertain.
