Two Northern California counties are expecting up to 15 inches of additional snow through Friday as a winter storm batters the region.
The National Weather Service (NWS) for the Sacramento forecast region issued a winter weather advisory in the early morning hours on Thursday for Plumas and Lassen counties. Snow started falling in the Sacramento region on Wednesday and is related to the atmospheric river affecting the Pacific Northwest.
Up to 6 inches of snow had already fallen as of Thursday morning in parts of the Sacramento forecast region, NWS meteorologist Katrina Hand told Newsweek, which could rise another 15 inches over the next 36 hours.
"Snow expected above 5500 feet. Additional snow accumulations through Friday of 4 to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts around 12 to 15 inches over the peaks," the winter weather advisory said. "Winds gusting as high as 35 mph."
The same storm was causing rain in low-elevation areas, Hand said.
The advisory was issued for the west slope of the northern Sierra Nevada and in western Plumas County and western Lassen County. It will remain in place until 10 p.m. local time on Friday.
Up to 10 inches of snow could affect mountain passes that run across the Sierra Nevada. The snowfall could hinder the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes, Hand said.
"Plan on slick travel conditions, snow covered roads, chain controls, and travel delays. These hazardous conditions may impact commutes today through Friday. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches," the advisory said.
Snow levels will drop further to 4,500 feet by Thursday night. The heaviest snow will fall overnight into Friday morning.
The NWS offices in San Diego and Hanford also issued winter weather advisories warning of snow, although those amounts weren't expected to reach 15 inches.
In the Hanford forecast region, higher elevations were expecting an additional 11 inches of snow that could make travel "very difficult to impossible." In San Diego, up to 4 inches of snow was expected in some high-elevation areas of that forecast region.
"Best chance for snow showers will occur on Friday," the advisory said. "Light snow may fall on Saturday."
Winter storm watches related to the atmospheric river were still in place in Oregon and Washington on Thursday evening. Impacts were expected to continue through the weekend in some areas.
"Snow may briefly transition to rain through Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes Saturday night before changing back to snow Sunday evening," the NWS office in Seattle said in a winter storm watch. "Slushy conditions are possible where rain occurs."
The storm also prompted winter weather advisories farther east in Montana.
The atmospheric river was preceded by a similar storm that hit the same area this past weekend.
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