California is set to experience an end to its brief sunny winter as storms roll in this week. Light rain will start things off in Southern California, but a stronger system is expected to bring heavier rain and snow across the state by Wednesday and Thursday.
Chad Hecht, a meteorologist, noted the change: “We’re going from sunshine and 60 degrees to cold, wet, and rainy.” Coastal cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles will see significant rainfall, while the Sierra Nevada could get several feet of snow.
A third storm is also on the way for Northern California over the weekend. These upcoming storms might be the last chance for significant precipitation before winter wraps up. Brian Hurley from the Weather Prediction Center mentioned that while storms can occur in April, they tend to be less frequent.
The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which is vital for California’s water supply, is currently at 81% of the average. Any storms in March could help improve that number. While Northern Sierra has had plenty of snowfall, the southern areas have seen far less.
This week starts with a storm bringing light rain late Monday into Tuesday. Northern California will likely see more clouds than rain, but Southern California, especially near the border with Mexico, could receive some light showers. Los Angeles is expected to get less than a third of an inch, while San Diego could see up to half an inch.
A more robust storm will move in from the Gulf of Alaska, arriving in Northern California Tuesday night and spreading rain and snow throughout the state on Wednesday through Thursday. Hurley explained it’s a widespread system affecting much of California, which hasn’t been the case this season.
Urban areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles could receive one to two inches of rain. The Coastal Ranges may see up to four inches, with similar amounts expected in the Transverse Ranges. There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall leading to flooding, especially along the coast and in the Central Valley.
This storm is expected to significantly impact the Sierra Nevada, with Donner Summit possibly receiving up to four feet of snow. Yosemite National Park may see three feet of snow at higher elevations and near one foot in the valley.
“This will be a colder system than we’re used to in March,” noted Brian Ochs from the Weather Service. Snow levels could drop to as low as 2,500 feet by Thursday, and areas like Mount Diablo and Mount Hamilton in the Bay Area may get some light snow accumulation.
After this storm, a break in the severe weather is expected before another system arrives, mainly impacting Northern California. Keep an eye on the forecast as conditions may change.
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Weather,Rain,Snow and Snowstorms,California,Los Angeles (Calif),Sierra Nevada Region (US),San Francisco Bay Area (Calif)
