SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A large atmospheric river that has been delivering rain and snow to Northern California will deliver its last punch Tuesday morning with low snow.
The Valley will have a chance of light rain showers through the morning commute. Winds will be much lighter than Monday, with the strongest coming in over 50 mph. Some minor flooding is possible on roadways before 7 a.m.
The Sierra will still be seeing periods of heavy snow through the morning with a Winter Storm Warning in effect.
Cold air will be sweeping in behind the main front, bringing down the snow level to 2,000 feet. Lighter accumulations are expected at the lower elevations, but Sierra passes will see several more inches of snow during the morning and afternoon.
Avalanche warnings are in effect in the eastern Sierra Nevada. The powerful atmospheric river weather system sucking up moisture from the Pacific Ocean is expected to dump more than 8 feet of snow on the highest peaks of California and Nevada.
The Valley begins to dry out by noon. The Sierra hangs on to snow showers until about 10 p.m. Tuesday then dry overnight.
Tracking the atmospheric river hitting Northern California
In the Sacramento region, Northgate Boulevard near Garden Highway experienced street flooding as drivers started their commute Tuesday morning. City crews were able to unclog the drains, clearing the roadway right before 7 a.m.
When you see this kind of flooding pop up, the best thing you can do is turn around to get around this water. Avoid driving through flooded streets. Other things to keep in mind is to take it slow and also watch out and being mindful of other drivers in these conditions.
You’ll want to make sure your windshield wipers are moving and those headlights are on, too. Avoid heavy breaking and also be sure to maintain a safe distance between other cars.
Links to follow for traffic updates
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