Snowy Sierra
This was the view from highway 267 at Northstar Drive in California, which showed a pretty snowy scene early Monday morning.
(Image courtesy: CalTrans)
Monday Morning Radar
A fairly heavy plume of Pacific Moisture was working into the Central California as of early Monday. While precipitation was falling in the form of snow in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Range, heavier rainfall was falling around and just south of the Bay Area.
500mb Vorticity Map
The 500mb vorticity map below shows the current western storm system deepening and moving into the Southwestern part of the country.
Storm System Moves Inland
As the storm system moves east over the next couple of days, rain and high elevations will continue to spread east.
3 Day Precipitation Forecast
According to NOAA’s WPC, the 3 day precipitation forecast suggests as much as 1″ to 2″+ amounts possible through parts of the Western U.S.
Winter Weather Headlines
Here’s the latest winter weather headlines from Great Falls, MT, who is calling for as much as 8″ to 12″+ in the mountains through AM Wednesday:
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TUESDAY TO 5 AM MST
WEDNESDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TUESDAY TO 5 AM
MST WEDNESDAY FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 6000 FEET…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TUESDAY TO 5 AM MST WEDNESDAY. A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 6000
FEET. THIS WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IS IN EFFECT FROM 5
AM TUESDAY TO 5 AM MST WEDNESDAY.
* LOCATIONS…GREAT FALLS…KINGS HILL PASS…STANFORD…
LEWISTOWN…LEWISTOWN DIVIDE…WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE VALLEYS AND
PLAINS WITH 8 TO 12 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS.
* TIMING…RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT WITH
PRECIPITATION CHANGING TO MOSTLY SNOW AT ALL ELEVATIONS ON
TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW WILL CREATE DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS
OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES INCLUDING KINGS HILL…WHERE ROADWAYS WILL
BECOME SNOW COVERED AND ICY BY TUESDAY MORNING. AT LOWER
ELEVATIONS…RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW WILL CREATE SLUSHY ROADWAYS
TUESDAY WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES TUESDAY NIGHT ALLOWING FOR SOME
ACCUMULATION AT ALL ELEVATIONS.
* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.
* HAZARD ELEVATION…HAZARDOUS WEATHER IMPACTS WILL PRIMARILY
FOCUSED AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET INCLUDING KINGS HILL
PASS.
* SNOW LEVEL…4000 FEET TONIGHT LOWERING TO THE PLAINS ON TUESDAY.
Snowfall Potential
The snowfall potential through midday Wednesday looks pretty decent with some spots in the high elevations potentially seeing 6″ to nearly 12″
Thanks for checking in and have a great rest of your week! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @TNelsonWX
