With snowfall rates expected to exceed 3 inches per hour, whiteout conditions could make roads unnavigable, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Weather Prediction Center warned on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The forecasters cited a more than 70 percent chance of “long-lasting disruptions to daily life in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada.”
The incoming blizzard, expected to coat the mountains Friday through Saturday, could bring up to 5 feet of snow to the area, the NWS stated.
The agency’s Reno, Nev., branch upped those projections even further, noting that localized snowfall totals could reach up to 8 feet.
“Sierra travel will be extremely dangerous due to life-threatening blizzard conditions later this week,” NWS Reno stated.
North of the Sierra, NWS Portland described “an active and unsettled weather pattern” across the Pacific Northwest, with mountain snow persisting through the weekend.
Seattle forecasters affirmed these projections, anticipating multiple feet of snow over the Olympics and Cascades.
While the worst of the winter weather will likely pummel these high-elevation regions this weekend, the rest of the West Coast will hardly be warm and dry.
“We hate to be the bearer of bad news but the late week weather looks downright … unpleasant,” the NWS Bay Area posted on X.
The branch forecasted rain totals of 1 to 2 inches for the Bay Area and Central Coast by the end of the week, as well as gusty winds, wet roadways and slower commute times.
Likewise, NWS Sacramento warned of gusty winds throughout Northern California on Thursday and Friday, urging residents to stock up on necessities, deploy generators appropriately and disconnect electronics.
Southern Californians will likely only encounter “minimal impacts,” with light to moderate rain falling on the coasts, valleys and foothills and possible snow at higher altitudes, according to NWS Los Angeles.
