Sierra could see 18 inches of snow this weekend

Wet week ahead

NWS Hanford says a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 10 AM Friday through 4 AM next Tuesday with up to 18 inches of snow expected above 6,000 feet in total.. Expect multiple storm systems on Friday night through Saturday and Sunday night through Tuesday bring much needed rain to the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills.

The storm door opens on Friday as the first trough slides in.
Latest forecasts have this storm to be more wetter as we are
now seeing a 40 to 50 percent chance of 12 inches or more of
snow above 7,000 feet. In the Valley, they are expecting a 35 to
65 percent chance of half an inch of rain Friday into Saturday
with the foothills at a 25 to 65 percent chance of an inch and
a half or more.

There will be a brief reprieve after the first trough slides out
as there is some ridging before the second trough moves in. This
second trough has weakened in moisture from previous forecasts
through Tuesday morning. Snow levels are expected to remain around 6,000 to 7,000 with this second storm
as there is a 20 to 60 percent chance of an additional 6 inches
of snow or more Sunday night through early Tuesday morning.

But wait – there’s more
We are looking at a third trough moving in Wednesday into next Thursday. Currently, the Day 7 snow forecasts have a 40 to 60 percent chance of 6 inches or more of snow. However, the forecasts this far out show snow levels down to 5,000 feet. In the foothills, we are looking at a 40 to 50 percent chance of another inch of rain from Wednesday into Thursday afternoon. The Valley is expecting a 30 to 45 percent chance of another half an inch of rain with this third system.

The news keeps getting better in the long term CPC outlooks. The
precipitation outlooks have a 50 to 70 percent chance of above
average in the 6-10 day outlook and a 40 to 50 percent chance of
above average in the 8-14 day outlook. Temperatures on the
overhand go from a 40 to 50 percent chance of below average in
the 6-10 day outlook to near normal to a 33 to 40 percent chance
of above average temperatures in the 8-14 day outlook.

Climate Prediction Center model issued Nov 12