The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has upgraded the winter storm approaching California. They are now calling for 4-8 FEET (48-96″) of snow above 7,000 feet.
Message from US National Weather Service Reno Nevada:
“Well, here we go again. Another storm is expected to move into the Sierra Monday bringing steady, and eventually heavy snow. This will be a marathon rather than a sprint in terms of snow accumulation with several wet feet of new snow expected over top of a drier layer of powdery snow through early Thursday.
Travel will be tough, and possibly impossible at times, through the Sierra with no clear break in snowfall once this begins. Expect to add potentially several hours to your travel time over Sierra passes; periods of white-out conditions are anticipated and road closures will be possible.
This new snow load coupled with expected wind may result in unstable slope conditions with the potential for avalanches and roofalanches – do NOT linger under eaves of buildings that have a large quantity of snow on its roof.
Impacts from this storm will likely be cumulative, meaning that they will increase through the duration of the event.
Elsewhere, not much precipitation is expected, but it will be windy.”
Also Read: Winter Storms Have Dropped 40 Billion Gallons Of Water Into Lake Tahoe
NOAA Forecast
Avalanche Watch
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED The following message is transmitted at the request of the U.S. Forest Service Sierra Avalanche Center. The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: Greater Lake Tahoe * TIMING...In effect from 5 PM Monday to 7 AM Thursday. * AFFECTED AREA...Central Sierra Nevada mountains between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. * AVALANCHE DANGER...Periods of HIGH avalanche danger may occur from Monday evening through Thursday morning. * REASON/IMPACTS...Forecast heavy snow and high wind may result in widespread avalanche activity in the mountains. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Very dangerous avalanche conditions may occur. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during HIGH avalanche danger. Large destructive avalanches could occur. Consult https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/ or www.avalanche.org for more detailed information. Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.