CALIFORNIA, USA — Drought-stricken California is facing a week of heavy mountain snowfall and widespread rain from another series of the kind of storms that were not expected to be likely this fall and winter due to La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
Forecasters say successive waves of precipitation moving into Northern California from Tuesday through Sunday afternoon will coat parts of the Sierra Nevada with 1 to 5 feet of snow. Higher elevations could get up to 8 feet.
There's also potential for significant lower-elevation snow, including over Interstate 5 north of Redding. Wet weather will arrive in Southern California later in the week.
Storm Watch
Northern California will start seeing the rain come through on Tuesday as it heads eastward, bringing rain to the valley and snow to the Sierra.
The forecast doesn't show a huge impact storm for Tuesday into Wednesday, but that will change later in the week. Periods of heavy rain and snow are expected to develop by Thursday and continue through Sunday.
A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for 24 hours starting on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Snow level will start around 3,000 to 4,500 feet then rise to 5,500 to 6,500 feet Wednesday. People in or traveling through the Sierra should be prepared for lots of changing conditions, which could result in big delays over the passes.
Rain and snow won't be gone for long after the advisory ends, because a Winter Storm Warning goes into effect from Wednesday at 4 p.m. to Sunday at 4 p.m., which could bring about four to eight feet of snow. Snow level will fall to 2,500 to 3,500 feet by Thursday night.
For a full breakdown on the winter storm forecast, click HERE or watch the video below.