Pacific Northwest Faces Unprecedented Snowfall and Wind Conditions
California faces a dangerous winter storm that has unleashed a formidable onslaught of snow, powerful winds, and rare blizzard conditions in the mountain regions. CNN states that this significant weather event will bury California under its largest snowfall of the year, creating a perilous situation for travelers.
The storm’s impact began in the Pacific Northwest, spreading into California’s Northern Coast Range, the Klamath Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, bringing with it not just snow but also strong winds and blizzard conditions. Snowfall rates could hit a staggering 3 to 5 inches per hour, particularly along the Sierra Nevada, resulting in up to 10 feet of snow in some areas within two to three days. The highest elevations will face the most severe conditions, with wind gusts surpassing 100 mph atop the Sierra’s peaks, complicating the measurement of snowfall and potentially creating enormous snow drifts.
These heavy snowfalls and fierce winds are predicted to produce long-lasting blizzard conditions in the Sierra and parts of the northern ranges, drastically reducing visibility to near-zero at times. The Weather Prediction Center warns of significant, enduring disruptions to daily life in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Unusually, the snow will reach well below the typical pass levels, affecting areas as low as 5,000 feet and even impacting lower elevations with several inches of snow and wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Additionally, the strong winds, extending beyond the snow-affected areas, may cause substantial damage by felling trees and power lines, leading to property damage and power outages. The storm is forecast to taper off in California by Sunday, another burst of less intense snowy weather could follow soon, affecting Northern California next week.
Pacific Northwest Faces Unprecedented Snowfall and Wind Conditions: Actionable Insights on EigenPrism
Post-event
All EigenPrism® users can assess the post-event impact of the snow accumulation using the following event footprint:
72-hour observed snow accumulation as of 2024-03-01
Forecast
All EigenPrism® users can assess the forecast of this event using the following report templates:
US Winter Storm Forecast Template
The report template auto-updates with the latest available forecasts, which include:
- 72-hr Forecast Freezing Rain Accumulation
- 72-hr Forecast Snow Accumulation
- Potential Winter Storm Overall Impact
Winter Severity Component Report Template
This report template consists of the summary level (Potential Overall Winter Storm Impact) and all six component WSSI datasets from NWS:
- Potential Snow Amount Impact
- Potential Snow Load Impact
- Potential Ground Blizzard Impact
- Potential Ice Accumulation Impact
- Potential Blowing Snow Impact
- Potential Winter Storm Flash Freeze Impact
The report template auto-updates with the latest available datasets.
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