Saturday, March 14, 2020

Snow, rain: California's "Miracle March"?

Linda Lam (weather.com, March 14, 2020); Xochitl, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

California's "Miracle March"? Feet of Sierra snow beginning this weekend
Needed precipitation ahead for California
A slow-moving storm will bring heavy snow to California's Sierra beginning this weekend. Several feet of snow may accumulate through the middle of next week.

This is great news for the state's snowpack, a key for replenishing reservoirs in spring and summer.
California's record driest February increased concern for drought.

Snowpack remains much lower than average in the Sierra, but reservoirs generally remain in good shape.

Much-needed snow will blanket California's Sierra Nevada high country this weekend into next week, bringing hope of a "Miracle March" that could replenish vital, water-providing snowpack after a record-dry February.

A major change in the weather pattern is taking shape for Northern California as unsettled and colder conditions will emerge. This change will be accompanied by low pressure that will track southward near the West Coast this weekend and will remain near California early next week before this system pushes eastward into the Great Basin.

Significant precipitation in Northern California is often associated with this pattern, the National Weather Service office in Sacramento commented in its forecast discussion Thursday morning.

Precipitation has begun in Northern California and will persist for much of the state into the middle of next week. The heaviest snowfall will likely occur Saturday night into Sunday evening. Major impacts are likely in the Sierra, with whiteout conditions expected at times.

Current Radar
Feet of snow are anticipated in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, and winter storm warnings have been posted for elevations above 2,500 feet in Northern California. At least 6 inches of snow is also expected in California's Siskiyous and higher elevations of the coastal ranges.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is also likely in the lower elevations. More

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