Aiexpress – The Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe area were experiencing heavy snowfall on Monday, as another winter storm made its way through the region.
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Storm Warning is currently active until 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Heavy, wet snow is predicted to accumulate between 4 to 10 inches at lake level, with even higher amounts reaching 2 to 4 feet above 7,000 feet. Additionally, strong winds are expected, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph in valleys and 100 mph over the ridges. Western Nevada valleys can also anticipate rainfall and gusty winds during Monday morning.
According to the weather service, traveling across Sierra passes, including Donner Summit, Echo Summit, and Carson Pass, may be extremely challenging or even impossible. Drivers were warned that travel times and delays may be amplified due to the increased holiday weekend traffic on Monday.
Snow levels in various parts of California are currently at different elevations. In the northeastern part of the state, the snow is hovering around 5,500 to 6,000 feet. In the Tahoe area, it is between 6,500 to 7,000 feet, while in Mono County, it is around 7,000 feet. By the afternoon, these levels are expected to decrease to around 5,500 to 6,000 feet.
The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, covering the area between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. This warning will remain in effect until Tuesday morning. It is important to note that ski areas and highways with avalanche mitigation programs are not included in this warning.
According to the weather service, forecast models indicate the formation of powerful thunderstorms in the northern San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Valley, and western Sierra Foothills. These storms are expected to bring heavy snowfall as they move into the high Sierra.
The weather service mentioned that there could be other intermittent periods of light to moderate snowfall across the Sierra on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, after that, the conditions are expected to become quieter for the rest of the week.
