California Braces for Historic Blizzard, Up to 12 Feet of Snow

California is facing a significant weather event as forecasters issue warnings of three days of potentially historic blizzard conditions in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Residents are strongly advised against travel in the region as the storm, expected to last through Saturday, threatens with up to 12 feet of snow and devastating winds.

Northern and eastern California are expected to bear the brunt of heavy to extremely heavy snowfall from Thursday to Saturday, accompanied by heavy rainfall and wind gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour. These conditions are likely to create three days of hazardous blizzard conditions, making travel extremely dangerous.

Although the storm is expected to weaken by Sunday, snow showers could persist in the Sierra Nevada mountaintops through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Blizzard conditions are anticipated to extend as far east as Lake Tahoe and parts of Nevada, including Reno and other areas of Washoe County, which could see up to 10 inches of snow by Sunday.

In total, California is bracing for significant snowfall, with forecasts predicting 1 to 4 feet of snow in areas above 3000 feet, 5 to 10 feet above 5000 feet, and 12 feet or more on the Sierra Nevada mountaintops.

Travelers are warned of “extremely dangerous to impossible travel conditions” on roads in the region, with white-outs and near-zero visibility likely. Additionally, the high winds could cause tree damage and power outages.

The storm system entered the Pacific Northwest before crossing the state border into northern California early Thursday morning, according to the NWS station in Sacramento.

This storm is expected to be the largest California has seen so far this year, following a historic year for snow in the Golden State in water year 2023. During that season, California recorded its second-snowiest winter on record, with over 700 inches of snowfall. The historic snowfall caused avalanches, flooding, and mudslides but also improved drought conditions for many parts of the state.

Compared to last year’s winter season, the Sierra Nevada experienced a significant snow drought, with most of the mountain range reporting less than 70% of its normal snow water equivalent as of February 15. However, recent storms have added significant amounts of snow to the mountain range, and this weekend’s storm is expected to add even more.

Meanwhile, central New York is also preparing for early March snow, with potential blizzard conditions forecasted for Thursday. Rochester and Syracuse are expected to receive between 6 to 11 inches of snow, accompanied by wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, creating very difficult travel conditions. A small craft advisory has also been issued for the coast of Lake Ontario, where waves could reach 9 to 12 feet, along with heavy winds until Friday morning.