SACRAMENTO, Calif — A very cold, powerful system will drop into Northern California Thursday from the Gulf of Alaska.
A blizzard warning is in effect for the Sierra beginning 4 a.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. Sunday, and it is only the 8th blizzard warning issued by the Sacramento National Weather Service office since 2008.
“If forecasts are correct, we have a real chance at beating the daily snowfall record at the Snow Lab of 52” (132 cm) from February 3, 1989,” said lead scientist at the Central Sierra Snow Lab, Dr. Andrew Schwartz.
Extreme impacts are expected Thursday, Friday and Saturday with snow continuing into Sunday. As of noon Thursday, snow is piling up along the Interstate 80 corridor and there have been closings and chain controls in place.
Snow began in the northern Sierra around 9 a.m. and will be pushing south throughout the day. Snow levels initially will be in the 5,000-6,000 foot range but will steadily drop. Nearly nonstop snowfall is expected from Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning with the heaviest occurring Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
In total, locations above 5,000 feet are expected to receive 5-10+ feet of snow and 1-4 feet are expected above 3,000 feet. Light accumulations are expected as low as 2,000 feet. Over 12 feet of snow is possible at the peaks.
Snow rates of 2-4" per hour and gusts upwards of 60 mph will produce periods of whiteout conditions across the Sierra through the weekend. Travel across the Sierra will be extremely difficult if not impossible and is highly discouraged beginning Thursday due to whiteout conditions. The main takeaway is to stay off the roads the next few days in the Sierra.
Model data shows many areas approaching 100" by noon Sunday and areas in the foothills receiving healthy amounts as low as 2,000 feet.
