3-20-13
...PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM BRINGING RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING... IMPACTS: * ENOUGH SNOW HAS FALLEN TO REQUIRE CHAINS OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATION PASSES OF THE SIERRA. GUSTY WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING SNOW AT TIMES. * SLICK ROADWAYS WILL CREATE TRAFFIC HAZARDS. MOTORISTS SHOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION. A PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE REGION IS BRINGING RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW TODAY. THE RAIN AND SNOW WILL TAPER TO SHOWERS BY THIS AFTERNOON AND MAY LINGER INTO EARLY THURSDAY ALONG THE WESTERN SIERRA SLOPES. SNOW: INTERSTATE 80 AND HIGHWAYS 50 AND 88 HAVE SEEN LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE THE 6000 FOOT LEVEL THIS MORNING. MOTORISTS TRAVELING INTO THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR TRAVEL DELAYS AND CARRY CHAINS. TODAY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED AT PASS LEVELS DOWN TO AROUND 6000 FEET WITH MINOR ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE BELOW THAT LEVEL. BREEZY SOUTH WINDS WILL ALSO BRING BLOWING SNOW AT TIMES. RAIN: RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITHIN THE VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO TOTAL LESS THAN A HALF INCH. RAINFALL TOTALS OVER THE FOOTHILLS COULD TOTAL UP TO AN INCH. BREEZY SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
