Cold storm moves into Northern California. Here’s how much rain and snow to expect
Another 1 to 2 feet of snow could fall across much of the Sierra Nevada on Wednesday and early Thursday, as more heavy rain and gusty winds also head for the Sacramento Valley during the second cold storm system this week.
Between 18 inches and 2 feet are expected at summit levels, 3 to 4 feet could fall at Lassen Park and more could fall locally on higher peaks, according to National Weather Service forecasts.
More than 3 feet of snow already fell earlier this week in the greater Lake Tahoe area during a powerful atmospheric river storm, with more than 2 feet dumped on Monday, according to the weather service.
Snow levels could drop as low as 1,000 feet, bringing a dusting of snow into the foothills east of Sacramento and in Shasta County. Placerville already saw flurries early Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in place from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday, and is strongly discouraging mountain travel as whiteout conditions and strong gusts are possible.
In the valley, the weather service predicts between a half-inch and an inch of rain could fall around Sacramento, with 1 to 2 inches possible farther north, near Grass Valley and in Chico. Downtown Sacramento on Monday got more than 2 inches of rain, breaking a daily record that had stood for more than a century.
Forecasts now show gusts could approach 40 mph, a bit faster than had previously been expected. Gusts in the greater Sacramento area topped 50 mph on Monday, and reached as high as 62 mph near Redding, weather service meteorologist Anna Wanless said Tuesday.
The Sacramento area saw widespread power outages Monday, as gusts knocked tree limbs into power lines.
Wednesday will only warm up to about 47 degrees in Sacramento, with a nighttime low of 42 degrees, according to weather service forecasts. Thursday may reach the low 50s, but overnight lows Thursday through Saturday will range in the mid-30s, likely creating frost.
After the storm, morning fog is likely later in the week, and showers may return to the capital region Saturday night or Sunday.
