Copyright Newsweek
An incoming winter storm will hit parts of California with at least 2 feet of snow, prompting National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists to warn residents of the impacts. Why It Matters The storm is caused by an atmospheric river, which is a “long, narrow region in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky—that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The storms brought by atmospheric rivers are known for their heavy snow, heavy rain and strong winds. They are more commonly found on the West Coast, particularly during the winter months. Although the storms can bring beneficial snow that helps supplement reservoirs throughout the summer dry season, they can also trigger deadly flooding, mudslides and widespread power outages. What to Know NWS meteorologists began warning of the storm earlier in the week. A winter storm watch has been issued for high-elevation areas in Central California. On Monday, NWS Sacramento warned of heavy mountain snow hitting areas above 5,000 feet. "An incoming storm system is expected to bring widespread precipitation and mountain snow above 5000 feet," NWS Sacramento said in a post on X. "Here's a look at most likely rain and snow amounts." In a snowfall total map included with the post, areas like Lassen National Park, Donner Pass, Ebbetts Pass and Sonora Pass were expecting anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of snow. Areas like Blue Canyon and Echo Pass were expecting between 4 and 6 inches. At lower elevations, heavy rain would fall instead of snow. The highest rainfall totals are expected in Blue Canyon, Fort Bragg, Placerville, Quincy, Sims, Sonora and Eureka. The winter storm watches in place will likely be upgraded to winter storm warnings on Tuesday, NWS meteorologist Stephen McCoy told Newsweek. The storm will have significant impacts, and meteorologists wanted to warn residents days in advance. The storm also will impact the San Francisco Bay Area, with most areas seeing at least 1 inch of rain and up to 3 inches possible in higher elevations, NWS Bay Area posted on X. What People Are Saying NWS Hanford warned in a winter storm watch: "Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes." NWS said in a Tuesday forecast: "In the West, a deep upper-level trough will bring substantial moisture to the West Coast beginning on Wednesday night. Moderate to heavy rain is expected along the California Coast between Wednesday and Thursday, while the heaviest snow is anticipated to occur over the Sierra on Thursday." What Happens Next The storm will begin on Wednesday night, with related weather alerts likely remaining in place until Friday in some areas. People living in the impacted areas are urged to follow the advice of local weather officials and prepare before the storm arrives.
