New Storm Forecasted to Bring Another 4-Feet of Snow to NorCal this Week
Just 24 hours removed from the weekend storm that brought at least 4-feet of snow to the Northern California mountains, another storm is set to hit the area on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a possibility of four more feet of powder in the mountains.
The National Weather Service is forecasting snowy conditions for elevations above 6,500 feet on Tuesday and Wednesday, adding to an already stellar week for snowfall in NorCal. As always, the Tahoe mountains will see at least a foot of snow, but Lassen will again feel the brunt of the storm with up to 48 more inches forecast to fall on the National Park.
This storm will also bring significant rain to the valley, which already saw its share this past weekend. Sacramento had a record-breaking day of rain Sunday in a vicious storm that wiped out power to over 100,000 residents. The next two days will see up to 2 inches of rain in some areas.
These two storms to start the New Year have been a welcomed sight following a new snowpack measurement that reported the Sierra Nevada snowpack at a mere 67 percent of average. That number will surely jump significantly following a wet week in Northern California.
These two storms hit Lassen Volcanic National Park the hardest, but snowfall numbers have been difficult to generate during the government shutdown. The past storm was forecasted to bring up to 80 inches of snow, but it’s unclear if that amount actually fell in the park. With 48 inches forecast for this week, that’s over 11 feet in five days. The park remains open during the shutdown, but it’s nearly impossible to get there with road conditions.
Once again, the snowy conditions will bring dangerous winter driving conditions for high-elevation areas in NorCal. The last storm made travel very difficult, as the popular stretch of Interstate 80 from Reno to Sacramento was closed for 17 hours Sunday due to blizzard conditions, stranding many travelers in the Reno/Tahoe area. Check for chain controls and road closures before traveling in the mountains.
The winter of 2019 is officially in full swing. Be safe during the winter conditions and enjoy the white winter!
