Major Winter Storm to Blanket California with Heavy Snow and Rain

An atmospheric river will bring significant snowfall, rain, and hazardous conditions across California from Tuesday night through Thursday.

The Sierra Nevada is expected to receive 2 to 4 feet of snow at higher elevations, with snowfall rates of several inches per hour and freezing levels dropping to 3,000 feet by Thursday morning.
Southern California will experience heavy rain, flash flooding risks, and up to 15 inches of snow in mountain areas above 6,000 feet, with lower elevations seeing rain and potential debris flows near wildfire burn scars.
Travel will be dangerous across the state, with road closures, chain controls, and near whiteout conditions anticipated on major mountain passes, such as Donner Pass and the Grapevine.
Strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph in some areas, are expected to cause power outages, tree damage, and hazardous driving conditions, especially in the Sierra and coastal regions.
While the storm will bring much-needed moisture to California's below-average snowpack, meteorologists caution that additional storms will still be required to reach normal levels.