Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images
A series of storms is expected to hit California this week , bringing snow and rain and complicating travel in the days pre-Christmas .
Meteorologists for the Los Angeles area and the central coast expect 1 to 3 inches of rain at along the coast and valleys and 2 to 4 inches in mountainous areas Wednesday through Sunday. Heavier rains are expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
Commuters and commuters should prepare for delays caused by slippery roads and standing water, forecasters said.
Mud currents and landslides may occur in mountain roads.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for Sierra Nevada from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 4 p.m. Wednesday Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service office in Sacramento expects the “chances of widespread rain and snow in the mountains to return ”On Tuesday, with snow levels reaching 3, 000 to 4, 500 ft.
“Expect significant delays in vacation travel, with conditions dangerous, ”the bureau tweeted. “Heavier snow is expected from Wednesday night through the weekend.”
The agency’s Reno office urged Travelers to plan ahead and said there will be “few, if any, significant breaks” for the Sierra once the first storms hit on Tuesday.
The highlands and areas above 6, 395 will see periods of significant snowfall beginning Tuesday night and will continue through the weekend, forecasters said.
Thursday and weekend are expected to bring the worst conditions, forecasters said.
Mono County, including the cities of Bridgeport, Coleville, and Mammoth Lakes,
could see 1 to 2 feet of snow, with areas above 7, 000 feet and west of the highway 395 3 to 7 feet of nie See, according to the Reno Office of the Weather Service.
Wind gusts could reach 50 mph and gusts along the Sierra ridge could exceed 100 mph, forecasters said.
In the Lake Tahoe metropolitan area, meteorologists expect 2 to 4 feet of snow, although 4 to 8 feet could fall at elevations above 7, 000 feet.
gusts could reach 40 mph and the peaks would see gusts above 100 mph, forecasters said.
A total snowfall of between 2 and 5 feet is expected in the sierra, from Yosemite National Park to Lake Isabella, with localized accumulations up to 8 feet possible at higher elevations, forecasters said.
Meanwhile, coastal areas will see light to moderate rainfall.
San Francisco Bay Area expects 2 to 3 inches of rain to fall over much of the region.
San Jose and Livermore could see 1-1 / 2 to 2 inches of rain, forecasters said. Santa Cruz could see 3-4 inches and Southern California could see 4-6 inches.
Snow levels will remain above of the 7, feet through Thursday, will drop to 5, 000 to 6, 000 feet on Friday and Saturday, and will drop to 4, 000 feet on Sunday, forecasters said .
The series of storms comes a week after a powerful weather system hit California, bringing record rains to the Los Angeles area that jammed traffic, they cut down trees and closed roads.
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