A strong and slow-moving storm system off the West Coast is in prime position to send continuous moisture up the spine of the Sierra Nevada this week. You may have heard this referred to as an ‘atmospheric river.’ This is a term used to describe a narrow ribbon of moisture that typically results in a significant amount of precipitation.
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Local National Weather Service offices are warning of major travel delays, whiteout conditions and even the possibility of avalanches. Some higher spots like Mt. Shasta are forecast to receive 4-6′ of snow with wind gusts peaking above 100 mph.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the foothills/mountains of interior NorCal Tue PM - Fri AM. Snowfall will be possible down into the N Sac Valley late Tue - Wed AM w/cities of Redding & Red Bluff receiving multiple inches of snow. Travel is HIGHLY discouraged #cawx pic.twitter.com/T4SLC20mVc
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 26, 2021
In addition to the obvious threats that multiple feet of snow brings, this also comes in addition to the ongoing drought out west.
While you might think that this much moisture would help alleviate the drought, it’s also too much at one time. Flash flooding and mudslides will be a concern, especially for areas that were impacted by historic wildfires in 2020. The lack of vegetation due to the fires (burn scarring) allows all this moisture to run off more easily.
Here at home, we’re tracking much less snow that will arrive in parts of the area Wednesday night.