Western states facing 'all-day onslaught' from massive winter storm

[Elmore Furth]

Source: CNN

A huge winter storm was affecting the West Coast on Sunday, poised to dump up to 10 feet of snow in some higher elevations, and causing flooding and potential mudslides in lower spots while impacting driving conditions and air travel, forecasters said.

A winter storm warning remained in effect through Monday afternoon for California's Sierra Nevada mountains, from Yosemite to Kings Canyon, according to the National Weather Service. "Storm totals of 5 to 10 feet above 7,000 feet are likely," the weather service said, and periods of heavy snow will continue through Monday. High winds are also forecast for the region.

"Travel into the high country of the southern Sierra Nevada may be difficult, if not impossible," according to forecasters.

That possibility exists for the northern Sierras as well. At 3:56 p.m. PST, the National Weather Service was predicting blizzard conditions with winds of up to 70 mph along the higher mountain passes. That could shut down traffic along Interstate 80, state Highway 50 and state Highway 88.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/19/winter.weather/

[davidinalameda]

1. maybe the melt-off will help with the drought California is facing

I think most people in that area know about winter storms so not sure if this is a big deal

it's the people going to the ski resorts who have to worry because they'll try and drive through the storms and get stuck

[Skittles]

2. brace for it, west coasters

AND DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES

[JDPriestly]

6. Here in LA the rain is slow and steady -- constant but not torrential.

The only fear we could have is that we will have mud slides.

We'll be fine as long as the earth does not become so saturated that it just gives way.

But, I'm wondering how this precipitation will hit the midwest. Will they get more huge snowstorms. That is a bigger problem.

[kestrel91316]

8. The area of the Station Fire is very unstable and is getting hit very hard

by this storm...........

[robinlynne]

3. One day? It has been raining steadily for 3 days and going to for 3 more.

It is good for the fire prone areas. It is WET!!!!! there is not even a 5 minute break.

[tomm2thumbs]

4. has Huckabee said it is God crying on SF because of DADT, yet?

I have come to expect such things from idiots of his ilk

from the LA Times:

'The subtropical storm has already drenched downtown Los Angeles with 3 3/4 inches of rain this weekend -- exactly one-quarter of the precipitation the city usually gets in an entire year.

And forecasters are warning that three more powerful punches are targeting Southern California before the sun might return Thursday.'

[mudplanet]

14. Huckabee knows the sound of god crying because god cried so very loudly when huckabee was born

[madrchsod]

5. ...ya we are getting this in a couple of days

http://blog.chicagoweathercenter.com/2010/12/pineapple-express-to-bring-flooding-rains-up-to-10-feet-of-mountain-snow-to-california-pattern-boost.html

read the rest of the page for some really scary figures...

47% of the country has snow cover.

[msongs]

7. I hope the Rockies are getting lots of this water n snow as well..they REALLY need it nt

[Curtis]

9. This made national news?

This is funny. I moved to northern California in 1973 and remember storms like this one all winter long. This one is actually, I'm sitting at 3500 feet in the northern Sierra, something that would have been considered normal to below normal in storm intensity compared to the 1980's. Heck, last year Squaw Valley was all excited because they had 90-100 inches of snow with an average 60 inch base. Back when I skied hard in the 80's most of the time there was at the least a 200 inch AVERAGE base. A couple years that number broke 300 inches.

Bottom line is this shows how climate change is real. 30 years ago=normal storm. Today=national news storm.

[proud patriot]

10. It's actually 7 days of Storms

so far here in the bay area . trees down power out ect..
in 3 days we've got between 3-7 inches. southern California
is getting pounded

[Adsos Letter]

11. Yup. And we'll be making the trek from Fairfield to San Diego on Tuesday morning

should make for a long drive down I-5...

[AndyTiedye]

13. If I Had to do That Drive I Think I'd Take the Train

[XemaSab]

16. I drove from Blythe to Redding three days ago

Don't be a hero; if the weather sucks, get a motel.

[Adsos Letter]

19. Thanks for the cautionary advice, XemaSab. We'll take our time going down...

the Grapevine is the only place that gives me any real concern.

Slow and easy...

:hi:


.

[Warpy]

12. As long as the snow behaves itself and just sticks to the mountains

it's all to the good. If it sticks here in the valley, it sucks warthog balls.

I'd forgotten just how soggy El Nino years could get around here.

[Sherman A1]

15. It will be interesting to see the effects as it moves further East

could be a rough storm for many.

[Occulus]

17. Welcome to Michigan.

:D

[randr]

18. Here in Western Colorado

we have had unseasonably warm weather for weeks. This storm will be bringing much needed snow to the high country. Elevations below 6500' are remaining warm and will receive rains. Saturday morning we woke up to 2" and by yesterday all was melted. Last night a Chinook wind warmed things up into the 40's. Morning temps would normally be in the teens this time of year and anything over freezing is unusual. As long as it keeps snowing up high and we get the needed rain we are as happy as clams.
When we discuss the changes occurring due to climate change we generally talk of the negative impacts. We are probably going to see some positive changes for some areas as well.
Of course, by mid January we will be back to arctic temps as usual but for now it is a relief.