Significant mountain snow and low-level rain will remain on tap across the western U.S. through the rest of the week.
An active weather pattern will deliver oodles of mountain snow and valley and Pacific coast rain during the remainder of the week. The first system will move inland from the Golden State to the Northwest for midweek before moving inland across the Wasatch Range and in Arizona’s Mogollan Rim on Thursday. By week’s end, a second storm will take a similar path to the first.
Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect until at least tonight from the far southern Washington and Oregon Cascades. Farther to the south, Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Storm Advisories remain in place through at least Thursday night across the Sierra Nevada and Santa Barbara and San Bernadino County mountains. This includes Mount Shasta, South Lake Tahoe, and Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Some of these advisories and warnings are in place through Friday and even Friday night, especially across southern California.
Additional Winter Storm Watches and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect across much of central and northern Nevada, Utah’s Wasatch Range, portions of southwestern Montana, western Wyoming, and Arizona’s Mogollan Rim between tonight and Friday morning.
Snow will be measured by a yardstick in terrain higher than 4,000 to 6,000 feet by the end of the week. Six to 12 inches is expected between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, with lower 2 to 5-inch totals forecast from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. Travel will be difficult, if not impossible, thanks to the combination of heavy snow and gusty winds as high as 55 to 65 mph. Make sure to check ahead for chain requirements if travel cannot be avoided.
The storm’s tentacles will deliver heavy rain as well, a scarcity in southern California, this winter. Rainfall accumulation of 1 to more than 2.5 inches locally will soak this part of the Golden State in a short time tonight and Thursday morning. This could lead to urban and flash flooding, especially in areas of poor drainage. Debris flows in recent burn scars will be possible as well.
Flood Watches are in effect across southern California. Los Angeles, Anaheim, Riverside, Ontario, and San Diego, Calif., are included.
Gusty winds will be problematic, too. High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories blanket much of California, Nevada, western Utah, and western Arizona. Peak sustained wind of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph are forecast through Thursday.
It’s never too early to prepare for inclement weather. Simply by having an emergency kit equipped with a weather radio, extra batteries, non-perishable food, water, clean clothes and blankets will go a long way in keeping your family safe, warm and protected. Be sure to check the WeatherBug App or your local weather stations to keep informed on the approaching weather.