California Faces First Major Rain and Snowfall of the Season
LOS ANGELES, California – California is set to experience its first major rain and snowfall of the season, with a storm system moving southward along the coast. This weather event marks the heaviest Sierra snowfall so far this fall, according to meteorologists.
The National Weather Service has issued flood watches for parts of Central and Southern California, including the Los Angeles Basin and southern Sierra foothills. As the storm continues its path, winter storm warnings are in effect for elevations above 6,000 feet in the Sierra, with conditions expected to create challenging travel.
Rain will sweep across much of Northern California on Monday, transitioning into Southern California by Tuesday morning and then tapering to showers by the afternoon. Some areas could see locally heavy rain, exceeding 1 inch, particularly in foothills below snow level, raising concerns about flash flooding and minor debris flows in areas recently affected by wildfires.
In the Sierra, snow accumulation is expected mainly above 5,500 feet, with totals ranging from 1 to 3 feet through late Tuesday night. Visibility may become suddenly reduced due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, particularly over Donner Summit and other passes. Authorities advise against traveling in the Sierra during the storm due to potential power outages and tree damage from the weight of wet snow.
Rain is already moving into the Sacramento area, with expectations of more than half an inch by late afternoon. Thunderstorms could develop, producing localized wind gusts between 40 to 50 mph, although widespread high winds are not anticipated.
Precipitation is expected to peak Monday evening, with forecasts indicating total rainfall amounts between 1 and 1.5 inches, and localized areas possibly reaching 2 inches where thunderstorms occur. A Winter Storm Warning is in place for elevations exceeding 6,500 feet, lasting through Wednesday morning.
By October, California typically transitions into its wet season, with about 82% of annual precipitation falling between December and March, making this early storm significant for the state as it prepares for winter.
