SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – An atmospheric river flowing from the Gulf of Alaska to Northern California on Saturday will bring much-needed rain for the Bay Area’s parched hills and reservoirs, but it will be strongest in the Sierra, where the Forecasters were warned of several meters of fresh snow.

A winter storm warning was issued for the Tahoe region from Saturday 10pm to Tuesday 10pm.

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“Sierra travel is expected to be extremely slow, if not impossible, due to heavy snowfall beginning Sunday for areas near and north of the US-50 spreading south, affecting all Sierra travel through Monday,” says the National Weather Service posted on Reno Saturday. “Peak intensity snow rates could be 1-3 inches per hour Sunday night through Tuesday.”

As snowstorm conditions move east, forecasters said more than 6 feet of snow could fall along the Sierra Crest and more than 3 feet on Lake Tahoe.

There is a risk of avalanches and even a rare thunderstorm event.

“This (thunderstorm) is definitely on the table from Monday evening to Tuesday morning with unstable air from the low inland,” forecasters said. “In this case, heavier snowfalls and / or lower snowfall are possible locally.”

Strong winds will also roar through the region.

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“The Sierra coasts are expected to experience winds with gusts of over 160 miles per hour which, along with the snow, will result in near-white conditions,” forecasters said.

And there will only be a short respite before the snow returns.

“While the storm will subside by Tuesday evening, post-storm excavation may affect travel into Wednesday,” forecasters said. “Then another winter storm follows, which is right on his heels from Wednesday noon to Thursday night.”

A week of snow is just right for the resorts and businesses in the region after a dry November left only a few ski slopes open and slowed the normal weekend crowd.

Sharon King, who runs Uncorked – a wine store in downtown Truckee – hopes the blizzard will eventually kickstart business.

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“Everything here is just so weather-dependent and touristic and COVID-dependent,” she said. “It was a wild ride. I missed the happy faces and the travelers. “

The post Avalanche Risk, Thundersnow; Atmospheric River To Bury Sierra Below A number of Toes Of Snow – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.