Newest winter storm could bring 8 feet of snow above Tahoe, 'atmospheric river' to Bay Area
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP/KTVU/) - Another big winter storm started blowing into the Sierra Nevada on Monday, with up to 8 feet of new snow possible in the upper elevations around Lake Tahoe over the next three days and dangerous winds in the valleys around Reno.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the area through Thursday morning. he forecast calls for winds gusting as high as 60 mph with gusts in excess of 140 mph over ridgetops.
"Periods of white-out conditions are likely," the service said. "Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage."
And in the Bay Area, another atmospheric river was expected to pummel down on Monday afternoon and last through Wednesday. The weather service said that part of California will see "excessive rainfall," with an increased chance of flooding, especially in the North Bay.
There was much concern in Marin County's Sausalito, where last week there was a mudslide that caused a home to slide down the hill. Crews were out at work early Monday, cutting down trees, fixing power lines and preparing for heavy rain.
Two to 4 feet of snow is expected over the three days, with 4 to 8 feet possible above elevations of 7,000 feet, including where U.S. Interstate 80 crosses the top of the Sierra at Donner Pass southwest of Truckee, California.
The latest storm will be a "marathon rather than a sprint," the service said, in terms of accumulation with several wet feet of new snow expected over top of a drier layer of powdery snow through early Thursday.
"Travel will be tough and possibly impossible at times through the Sierra with no clear break in snowfall once this begins," the service said.
The service said the new snow load coupled with excepted winds may result in unstable slope conditions in the Sierra with the potential for avalanches and "rooflanches."
"Do not linger under eaves of buildings that have a large quantity of snow on its roof," the service warned.
KTVU's Lisa Fernandez and Sara Zendeham contributed to this report.