Warmer Storms Stacking Up, Heading to a Mountain Near You

We are anticipating a significant pattern change starting around Friday, March 10th. We will transition from a cold, stormy pattern to a very warm, stormy pattern. The winter of 22/23 continues. 

The storm train starting on Friday is born in the south and will knock this Arctic air out of our area and pack significant tropical moisture. Snow levels will start very high with several of these storms.

Currently, we have a snowpack as low as the foothills and a very significant snowpack in the mountains. This winter has been much colder than average so our typical snow melt has simply not occurred. Which is a good thing. Unless of course we start to experience heavy rain at high elevations. This series of storms could bring some flooding concerns.

Here is a look at the forecasted storms along with dates and times:

Friday March 10th, 12:00am

Monday March 13th, 2:00am - Same storm, tail end will bring some cooler air

Wednesday March 15th - Beginning of another warm storm

Saturday March 18th

Finally here is the total, liquid precip forecast for the next couple of weeks. Some areas of the Sierra are forecast to receive upwards of 16 inches. Those are the highest elevations along the western Sierra crest. Mt. Rose is in the 10-12 inch range, some of that will be rain but we think most will be snow, probably very wet snow. The leeward valleys will be receiving all rain and could pick up as much as 5 inches.

Stay Tuned ...