California's stormy Christmas week could dump up to 10 *feet* of Sierra snow. Forecast details and potential impacts:
Feet of snow will pile up in the Sierra, which will lead to difficult travel.
But the winter months are firmly in California's rainy season, and a sharp southward jet-stream plunge off the West Coast will maintain a wet pattern for the Golden State through Sunday. -Friday : The next round of rain and mountain snow moves into Northern California. Sierra snow could become heavy at night, with snow falling at lower elevations in the mountains than the Wednesday-Thursday round. Only a few showers are expected in Southern California, but snow showers in the high country could fall at lower elevations than Thursday perhaps as low as 4,000 to 5,000 feet.
One to five feet of total snow accumulation is a good bet in the Sierra through Sunday. Some locations could receiveThis heavy snow and occasional wind gusts over 60 mph could make travel increasing difficult, if not impossible, by later Tuesday or Wednesday through the Sierra. Major routes including Interstate 80 over Donner Summit and U.S. 50 could be shut down for a time.If you have travel plans in the Sierra, complete them by midday Tuesday.
There will still be a threat for local flash flooding in the most flood-prone areas, as well as debris flows off areas recently burned by wildfires.late October atmospheric river eventIf you live near an area recently burned by wildfires, monitor the latest developments and heed any evacuation notices from local emergency managers immediately.