A Winter Storm Warning will take effect Friday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m., covering the Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet through Saturday morning, with forecasters warning of up to a foot of snow at mid-elevations, as much as two feet at the highest peaks, and wind gusts up to 60 mph that could make mountain travel very difficult. The warning stretches across some of Northern California's busiest winter travel corridors, including stretches of Interstate 80 and Highway 50, just as holiday-season road trips start ramping up.
Where the Warning Applies
The National Weather Service Sacramento office issued the Winter Storm Warning covering the Sierra Nevada in Sierra, Nevada and Placer counties above 5,000 feet, including Interstate 80, as well as the Sierra Nevada in El Dorado, Amador and northern Alpine counties above 5,000 feet, including Highway 50, according to The Sacramento Bee. The warning also extends to the Sierra Nevada in Calaveras, Tuolumne and southern Alpine counties above 5,000 feet, plus Lassen Volcanic National Park, per the same report. Snowfall is expected above 6,000 feet, with accumulations reaching a foot and up to two feet at the highest peaks, while areas down to 5,000 feet could see around two inches, the outlet reports. Snow levels are forecast at 6,500 to 7,500 feet Friday before dropping to 5,500 to 6,500 feet by Saturday morning, and winds could gust as high as 60 mph.
The warning is set to expire Saturday at 10 a.m., though forecasters say the heaviest snowfall is expected Friday night into Saturday morning, with light flurries bringing up to two inches of accumulation down to 5,000 feet and heavier snow above 6,000 feet, per the same account. Snow activity is then expected to lull Saturday afternoon through Sunday before additional snow returns Sunday night through Monday, The Bee's report notes.
A Second Round Follows a Brief Lull
Separately, a broader regional forecast from YubaNet describes two distinct rounds of mountain snow moving through the region. A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from Friday morning through Monday afternoon for elevations above 6,000 feet, according to the outlet, with snow levels starting at 7,000 to 8,000 feet Friday, lowering to 6,500 feet Saturday, then dropping to around 5,000 feet by Monday morning. Blizzard conditions are possible above 7,000 feet Friday, which YubaNet says could create dangerous and potentially impossible travel Friday afternoon and evening.
YubaNet also reports that a break in the weather is possible during the day Saturday, followed by another round of snow Saturday night into Monday. A Wind Advisory is separately in effect from Friday morning through early Friday evening for the north and central Sacramento Valley, with the strongest winds expected Friday afternoon, the outlet notes. The National Weather Service Sacramento office also flagged the potential for low snow levels with a wintry system expected Sunday, highlighting Grass Valley — sitting at roughly 3,000 feet elevation — as an area to watch, according to a post on the agency's Facebook page.
Driving Dangers and Winter Safety Tips
The National Weather Service is warning that strong winds could cause downed tree branches, localized power outages and near-whiteout conditions, with hazardous conditions potentially affecting both Friday evening and Monday morning commutes, per the Bee's report. Nationally, weather-related vehicle crashes kill more than 6,000 people and injure more than 480,000 people each year, the agency says.
Drivers are advised to assume ice may be present on roadways whenever temperatures are near freezing and to check road conditions before heading out, according to the same safety guidance. Motorists should also allow snow plows plenty of room to pass, and anyone who encounters a downed power line should call 911 rather than approach it.
The agency further recommends that drivers carry a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, a flashlight, a cell phone, a blanket, warm clothing, drinking water and high-calorie, non-perishable food in case of a breakdown. Travelers heading out of town during dangerous winter weather should tell family or friends their destination, intended route and arrival time, and stranded drivers are urged not to attempt walking to safety.
