Buckle Up! Week of Storms Could Bring 100 Inches of Snow to NorCal Mountains
A major winter storm is set to hit Northern California starting Friday, January 31, bringing significant snowfall to the Sierra Nevada over the next week. This could be the biggest series of storms for the season, with multiple feet of snow expected at ski resorts across the region and up to 100 inches at high elevation peaks.
The first wave of the storm arrives Friday, with snow levels initially hovering between 5,500 and 6,500 feet before rising to 8,000–9,000 feet on Saturday. This means lower elevations will likely see rain while higher elevations accumulate wet, dense snow.
Strong winds will also impact the region, with gusty conditions along exposed terrain. By Sunday, snow levels will start to drop again to around 6,500–7,500 feet.
A second, colder storm system is expected to arrive Monday night, bringing widespread snowfall to mid and upper elevations. Snow levels could fall as low as 5,000 feet by Wednesday or Thursday, allowing more ski areas—especially lower-mountain zones—to see heavier accumulations. Unlike the weekend storm, this system is expected to bring drier, fluffier snow.
Here is the full snow forecast for Tahoe ski resorts:
- Sugar Bowl: 56–95″
- Kirkwood: 52–88″
- Palisades Tahoe: 50–85″
- Mammoth Mountain: 30–52″
- Northstar: 26–47″
- Heavenly: 26–45″
- Mt. Rose: 23–40″
On top of the snow, flooding potential is possible in the valley, with flood risks seen from Redding all the way down to Modesto. These areas could see up to 4 inches of rain through Sunday, enough to cause significant flooding and dangerous travel conditions on NorCal roads.
Forecasters predict that this active weather pattern could persist into early February, keeping the Sierra in a cycle of above-average snowfall and colder temperatures.
With rapidly changing conditions, skiers and snowboarders should stay updated on resort reports and road closures. Stay tuned for more storm updates as the snowfall totals climb!
