Blizzard Warning Issued As 'Life-Threatening' Storm Slams The Sierra

SACRAMENTO — A powerful blizzard moving into the Sierra Nevada will create life-threatening conditions and could make mountain travel impossible for days, according to the latest forecasts.

The extreme storm prompted a rare blizzard warning from the National Weather Service, which took effect Thursday and will remain in place for a wide swath of the Sierra until at least Sunday morning.

According to The New York Times, such warnings are reserved for extreme storms with prolonged periods of whiteout conditions, and only eight have been issued by the National Weather Service's Reno office since 2002. The most recent warning was issued on nearly the same day last year ahead of a storm that dumped two feet of snow over 24 hours in the Tahoe area.

Forecasters warn the latest storm could dump more than 12 feet of snow at elevations above 5,000 feet in the Sierra, with peak hourly snow rates projected to surpass 3 inches.

In a detailed briefing Thursday, the Climate Prediction Center warned of "substantial, long-lasting disruptions to daily life" at higher elevations of the Sierra and significant winds that could cause whiteouts for days.

The weather service shared specific snowfall projections for the Sierra Thursday, noting locally higher amounts could be possible:

• Highway 395: 6-14 inches
• Western Lassen County: 1-3 feet
• Plumas County & Sierra County: 2-5 feet
• Tahoe Basin to Sonora Pass: 2 -5 feet
• Mono County (south of Sonora): 1-3 feet
• Sierra crest: 3 - 6 feet
• Sierra communities: 4-8 feet (elevations 6,500+)

Caltrans cameras showed conditions quickly deteriorating Thursday afternoon on Interstate 80 near Soda Springs. Donner Pass was forecast to receive up to 10 feet of snow from the storm. At the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, researchers shared a list of their snowiest days on the books and said there was a chance some of those records could fall.

Forecasters this week have repeatedly discouraged mountain travel, especially while the blizzard warning remains in effect.

"Bottom line: This winter storm will cause very dangerous and possibly life-threatening conditions starting today and going through the weekend," NWS Reno meteorologists wrote Thursday. "Travel is not advised especially in the Sierra mountain region."

As the storm moves southward, colder air will bring snow levels lower to the foothills, which could accumulate snow on Saturday and Sunday.

While the storm will present considerable hazards in the mountains, it could help propel California's snowpack make up for a slow start to the winter. Ahead of the blizzard, the Department of Water Resources completed its third snow survey of the season Thursday, measuring the snowpack close to 80 percent. DWR officials said the snowpack was near average in most regions of the state.

Previous Coverage:

• 'Crippling Blizzard' For Sierra As 10 Feet Of Snow Forecast
• Snow On Bay Area Hilltops, Frost Possible As Cold Front Arrives