Another Major Winter Storm Could Drop 5+ Feet of Snow on NorCal Mountains this Weekend

In December 2021, the Sierra Nevada mountain range was pummeled with a historic month of snowfall, even breaking records in Tahoe for the most snow ever recorded. Now, December 2022 is on the verge of a similar fate.

Yet another winter storm is arriving in Northern California to deliver what could be the most prominent snowfall yet. From Friday morning through Saturday night, the NorCal mountains could see up to five feet of snow, with snow falling as low as 2,500 feet. Up north, Lassen Peak will receive the brunt of the storm with 60 inches, Mount Shasta could see up to four feet. In the lower Sierra, including Tahoe and Mammoth, mountain passes are expected to receive 48 inches during the 48-hour stretch.

Lower elevations will be drenched with rain throughout the weekend, receiving as much as five inches through Sunday. Grass Valley, per usual, could see the most rainfall while Redding, Chico and Sacramento all could receive up to 3 inches of rain. Eureka, Yosemite and Weaverville are all forecast to receive 4 inches.

The winds will be ferocious throughout the storm, creating blizzard conditions in the mountains and dangerous travel through the weekend. Winds of up to 50 mph are expected in Redding and South Lake Tahoe, and gusts could reach 45 mph in Chico, Grass Valley and Sacramento. Be sure to secure your outdoor items and be prepared for power outages.

As with any heavy snowstorm, mountain travel is highly discouraged as chain controls and full closures are expected on high-elevation roadways. Closures of Interstate 5 near Mount Shasta, Interstate 80 at Donner Summit, Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 395 near Mammoth Lakes could all see closures, just to name a few.

This storm is just what we need in NorCal! But remember to be safe during the storm, especially in the mountains. ‘Tis the season for a white Holiday!