Pattern Change Starts Now

A major change in our weather pattern is underway. As we reported in our last post, gradually the storms will get bigger and wetter. One change is a large cold front will drop down out of Alaska and plunge us in the deep freeze the day after Christmas through that week.

We are still expecting a major weather event with some areas of the Western Crest of the Sierra picking up 20+ inches of liquid precipitation.

Here is what we are seeing:

Wednesday 12/17

Storm beginning to move south.

Early Saturday Morning (12/20)

Subtropical connection being established. There is a large cold front to the north and a warm front to the south. They are going to collide and stall right over Tahoe.

Midday Sunday (12/21)

Monday (12/22)

Christmas Eve - Wednesday (12/24)

Storm moves up from the south, slams Tahoe and most of California.

Christmas Day - Thursday (12/25)

Major Sierra Snow Storm. Notice the cold front to the north.

Saturday (12/27)

Champagne Powder!

We are seeing a possible dynamic for the beginning of the year. Or should I say the GFS is. Notice the huge cold front to the north and the warm front to the south. If they collide we could be in for another major weather event for the first week in January.

As for now, here is the precipitation potential for the next 2 weeks. I have blown this up so that you can see the Sierra Crest, NW of Lake Tahoe is looking at as much as 25 inches of precipitation. The leeward valleys could see their annual total in 2 weeks. Mt. Rose appears poised for 8-15 feet of snow by the 26th.

Stay Tuned ...