Winter Storm Warning Issued for Central California Sierra Nevada Through Wednesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Hanford, CA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra Nevada region. The alert is currently in effect and is scheduled to remain active until 10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, February 18.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a significant portion of central California, specifically including:

• Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra
• Fresno-Tulare Lower Sierra
• South End of the Lower Sierra
• Yosemite National Park (including Yosemite Valley and areas outside the valley)
• San Joaquin River Canyon and Upper San Joaquin River
• Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge
• Kings Canyon National Park and the Grant Grove Area
• Sequoia National Park
• South End of the Upper Sierra

What You Should Do

Travel is expected to be very difficult to impossible during this period. If you must travel, the National Weather Service advises keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Residents and travelers can obtain the latest road conditions by calling 5 1 1.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulations: Heavy snow is forecast with total accumulations of 3 to 5 feet for areas above 6,000 feet. The highest elevations could see between 5 to 7 feet of snow. Elevations down to 4,000 feet are expected to receive 1 to 2 feet of accumulation.
• Wind: Wind gusts could reach as high as 60 mph, which may lead to tree damage.
• Impacts: Hazardous conditions are expected to impact both the Monday morning and evening commutes.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10:00 PM PST Wednesday. Snow levels are expected to begin between 5,500 and 6,000 feet on Sunday night, lowering to 4,000 feet by Tuesday morning. Light snow accumulations may reach down to 3,000 feet by Tuesday night and into Wednesday.