Series of Storms to affect the West with more Snow/rain/win

[Metalicwx220]

Last time seattle seen a 3inch snowstorm this late in the season was 1989. 3-5 forecast for Seattle

[Metalicwx220]

Accuweather.com
It's been more than three decades since snow has fallen in downtown San Francisco, and there is a possibility that this long streak will be broken by the end of this week.

Lower elevations around Los Angeles, as well as other parts of California and the Southwest where it rarely snows, could also have snowflakes flying this weekend. Las Vegas is another place where snowflakes may be seen.

In some places, the snow will be heavy enough to disrupt travel significantly or even shut down travel completely.

"With snow potentially falling down to sea level in the San Francisco Bay area, this could be a one-in-30-year event if it all transpires," warned AccuWeather.com Western Expert Ken Clark Wednesday.

Snow already made an appearance in some of the higher elevations around San Francisco with a storm this past weekend, and a storm moving in later this week will bring snow to even lower elevations.

This is the same storm bringing significant snowfall to Seattle and Portland.

The cold air coming in with this storm has Clark very impressed.



"There indeed could be snow in the San Francisco Bay area and the Central Valley of California Friday afternoon and night," Clark stated, "and a few rain and snow showers Saturday. Snow levels could go down to 1,000 feet in the L.A. Basin Saturday."

In downtown San Francisco, he adds that it is very possible that in a heavy rain shower there could at least be wet snowflakes. It's not a guarantee but it's certainly possible.

There is growing concern that major passes around the San Francisco Bay area will be affected by snow.

In addition to the San Francisco Bay area and some valleys of Southern California, snow could also fall in the Upper Deserts and the heavily-traveled passes of Southern California, including the Grapevine and Cajon Pass.

"Precipitation will be all snow above 3,000 feet, or certainly below pass level," Clark said, "so the Grapevine could pick up 6 to 10 inches of snow."

Clark adds that other passes, such as the 14 Freeway from L.A. to the Antelope Valley, will also be affected. He says that even the Antelope Valley itself could have snow.

Snow along Interstate 40 into Arizona could become a major problem as well.

AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski has more details on the feet of snow in store for the Sierra.

The last time it snowed in downtown San Francisco was on Feb. 5, 1976, when 1 inch of snow was measured.

[Metalicwx220]

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
in effect until Thursday, Feb 24, 4:00 AM...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND AROUND THE SAN FRANCISCO AND MONTEREY BAY REGION...

A COLD AIR MASS WILL SPREAD ACROSS OUR ENTIRE AREA OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. THIS WILL HELP TO DROP LOWS IN NORTH BAY VALLEYS INTO THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S FOR NORTH BAY VALLEYS BY SATURDAY MORNING. BY SUNDAY MORNING LOCALLY RECORD-BREAKING COLD TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED FOR MANY URBAN LOCATIONS WITH 20S TO LOWER 30S AGAIN FORECAST OVER THE NORTH BAY VALLEYS...UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S AROUND MOST OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE SANTA CLARA AND SALINAS VALLEYS. HIGHER ELEVATION SPOTS WILL MOSTLY BE IN THE 20S. PERSONS PLANNING ON BEING OUTDOORS THIS WEEKEND SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS.

[somethingfunny]

If it verifies, WOW!

[Metalicwx220]

Im going to be watching the Weather channel to see if it snows in San Fran and or Los Angeles Phoenix lol. Whats wrong with this winter every major city has seen flurries of some type in the U.S except Miami and Orlando.

[fogbreath]

Well, I'm definitely taking something that takes video along with me on Friday...you, know, JIC some strange white stuff starts falling from the sky during the day when going around the Bay Area that day.

[brunota2003]

Could you imagine seeing the Golden Gate...with snow on the ground around it and still falling? That would be an amazing picture.

[Metalicwx220]

LOL San Francsco has snow in the forecast.

[fogbreath]

Based on what I've seen and heard from the local mets, 1000 feet and up for snow accumulation (which is still pretty low for this area, but not the snowmageddon that people were hoping for.) Anything below that elevation either won't stick and/or won't fall.

I will say that I should've brought my rain pants with me - I got absolutely drenched walking into work today

[Metalicwx220]

Rain & Snow
Lo 36° RealFeel® 30° Night

W at 9 mph
Gusts: 17 mph
Cool with the temperature approaching the record low of 34 set in 1935 with rain and snow showers
Max UV Index: N/A
Thunderstorm Probability: 10%
Amount of Precipitation: 0.11 in
Amount of Rain: 0.10 in
Amount of Snow: 0.0 in
Amount of Ice: 0.00 in
Hours of Precipitation: 3 hrs
Hours of Rain: 3 hrs
1935!!!!!!

[Metalicwx220]

Los Angeles!
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
in effect until Friday, Feb 25, 6:00 PM...A VERY COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TODAY INTO SATURDAY...

A VERY COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ORIGINATING FROM CANADA WILL BRING RAIN AND LOW ELEVATION SNOW TO THE AREA TODAY AND SATURDAY.

THE COLD FRONT WILL BRING RAIN...WITH SNOW ABOVE ABOUT 4000 FEET...TO SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES STARTING THIS MORNING. FURTHER SOUTH IN VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES...LIGHT SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP DURING THE DAY AHEAD OF FRONT...WITH HEAVIER PRECIPITATION DEVELOPING TONIGHT AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THOSE COUNTIES AND INCREASING SOUTHWEST WINDS ENHANCE PRECIPITATION RATES...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SOUTH FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES.

BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...A VERY COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING A THREAT OF SHOWERS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS INTO SATURDAY. SOME OF THESE POST-FRONTAL STORMS COULD BRING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND WATERSPOUTS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM ONE HALF TO ONE INCH ACROSS THE COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS...WITH ONE TO THREE INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE FOOTHILLS AND LOWER MOUNTAIN ELEVATIONS.

THE MAIN IMPACTS OF THIS UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION AND STRONG WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY LOW SNOW LEVELS BEHIND THE FRONT. THE MAJORITY OF THE SNOWFALL IN THE MOUNTAINS IS EXPECTED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT...WHEN SNOW LEVELS ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO BE 4000 TO 5000 FEET. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL RAPIDLY...AS LOW AS 500 FEET NORTH OF POINT CONCEPTION...AND 1000 FEET SOUTH OF POINT CONCEPTION. PRELIMINARY SNOW ESTIMATES WITH THIS UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM ARE 1 TO 2 FEET ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET...WITH LESSER ACCUMULATIONS BELOW 5000 FEET. LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY...LIGHTER SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS AND THE INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES. THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE FOOTHILL AREAS WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

IN ADDITION...STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE FRONT WHICH COULD CREATE BRIEF PERIODS OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY IMPACT MANY OF OUR MAJOR MOUNTAIN ROADWAYS...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 5 FROM THE GRAPEVINE TO SANTA CLARITA...AS WELL AS HIGHWAY 14 FROM SANTA CLARITA VALLEY TO THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...INCLUDING THE SOLEDAD CANYON. DUE TO THE UNUSUALLY LOW SNOW LEVELS EXPECTED...SOME OF THE LOWER ELEVATION ROADWAYS THAT ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK FOR SNOW INCLUDE HIGHWAY 101 (ESPECIALLY NEAR CUESTA PASS)...HIGHWAY 154...HIGHWAYS 41 AND 46 IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY...AS WELL AS HIGHWAYS 126 AND 118 IN VENTURA COUNTY.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING SOME OF THE LOWEST SNOW LEVELS WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT TIMES. WITH SUCH LOW SNOW LEVELS POSSIBLE THIS UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM COULD BE DEADLY FOR UNPREPARED MOTORISTS CAMPERS OR HIKERS. ANYONE PLANNING TO TRAVEL INTO THE MOUNTAINS TODAY AND SATURDAY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER STORM CONDITIONS WITH VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CARRY AN EMERGENCY KIT IN YOUR CAR IN CASE YOU ENCOUNTER HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS AS THIS UNUSUALLY COLD WINTER STORM APPROACHES THE SOUTHLAND.

[Metalicwx220]

Rain & Snow
Lo 35° RealFeel® 26° Night

SW at 9 mph
Gusts: 13 mph
Chilly with a couple of showers of rain or snow
Max UV Index: N/A
Thunderstorm Probability: 20%
Amount of Precipitation: 0.06 in
Amount of Rain: 0.06 in
Amount of Snow: 0.0 in
Amount of Ice: 0.00 in
Hours of Precipitation: 2 hrs
Hours of Rain: 2 hrs
LOL las vegas tomorrow nite.

[BigB0882]

I didn't think it was that rare for Vegas to get snow. It seems they have gotten some good snow storms the last few years. Maybe those were rare but it gave me the impression it happens from time to time, even once a year or so.

[Metalicwx220]

They got lucky the past 2 years.

[fogbreath]

Based on all the local loops and everything, I think in the end it will be more hype than real substance for this area at least. Some dusting on the peaks but not much more - doesn't seem to be a lot of moisture in the cold air behind the front.

It should be cold like they're predicting though - I saw that it's already down to 40 degrees in Calistoga, a place that normally gets pretty cold anyway during winter because of its valley location.

Of course, this is not an official forecast or anything like that.

[Ntxw]

Hard freeze warnings for the central valley areas. Looks like every major growing region has suffered significant freezes this winter. We'll probably feel it in our pockets not too long in the distance...

[Metalicwx220]

Bust LOL XD
Showers likely. Lows in the 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening.

[Metalicwx220]

Hope for some type of Surprise OLL

[Metalicwx220]

Come on San Francisco it can still snow!
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
253 PM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

...COLD WINTER STORM TO IMPACT OUR AREA THROUGH SATURDAY...

...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES EXPECTED BOTH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND
SUNDAY MORNING...

.DISCUSSION...AS OF 2:53 PM PST FRIDAY...THE COLD FRONT HAS MOVED
THROUGH OUR CWA AND NOW LIES DRAPED ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITH THE FRONT WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED...ESPECIALLY ACROSS AREAS IN SAN MATEO...SANTA CRUZ...
AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES. STORM TOTALS RANGED FROM OVER 5 INCHES AT
LOS TRANCOS PARK IN SAN MATEO COUNTY TO UNDER AN INCH IN THE
INTERIOR MONTEREY COUNTY. RADAR SHOWS A FEW SHOWERS HAVE POPPED UP
OVER SONOMA AND NAPA COUNTIES...WITH PLENTY OF SHOWER ACTIVITY IN
THE VICINITY OF THE LOW CENTER...WHICH IS NOW LOCATED ABOUT 270
MILES WEST OF POINT ARENA...AND MOVING TO THE SOUTH.

SHOWER ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVERNIGHT...AND BE MOST
ABUNDANT FROM ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SOUTHWARD. AS TEMPERATURES
DROP...A FEW SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE AT LOW ELEVATIONS...AND
MORE LIKELY IN THE HILLS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT
FOR HIGHER TERRAIN FROM THE EAST BAY SOUTH...EXCEPT FOR OVER THE
SANTA LUCIA ZONE WHICH IS UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING. ALTHOUGH THE
BRUNT OF THE PRECIPITATION HAS ALREADY MOVED PAST...CONVECTIVE BANDS
COULD PRODUCE HEAVY BURSTS OF PRECIPITATION...THUS THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORIES AND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT. THE EXCEPTION WAS OVER THE
NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS...WHERE THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WAS CANCELLED
EARLIER TODAY.

COLD AIR FILTERING BEHIND THE FRONT ALONG WITH CLEARING SKIES
OVERNIGHT WILL ALLOW FOR FREEZING AND SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. A
FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT IN THE NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS
FOR TONIGHT. AS COLDER TEMPERATURES ARE ANTICIPATED TOMORROW NIGHT...
THIS WILL HAVE TO BE BROADENED TO ACCOMMODATE MORE AREAS.

LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD...DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY INTO
MONDAY AS WEAK RIDGING OCCURS OVER THE STATE. A COUPLE OF
POTENTIALLY WET SYSTEMS...HOWEVER...ARE SETTING UP TO AFFECT THE
DISTRICT BY MIDWEEK. PRECIPITATION WITH THE FIRST SYSTEM IS EXPECTED
TO BEGIN AS EARLY AS LATE MONDAY IN THE FORM OF WARM ADVECTION
RAINS. THEN BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...A FETCH OF MOIST SUBTROPICAL
FLOW INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER TROUGH COULD BRING SIGNIFICANT
PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA. EARLY INDICATIONS PINPOINT THE HIGHEST
QPFS IN THE NORTH BAY...WHICH WOULD BE FORTUITOUS AS THEY RECEIVED
LESS RAIN THAN SOUTHERN COUNTIES TODAY. HOWEVER...THERE IS STILL
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING LOCATION AND INTENSITY OF THIS SYSTEM AS IT IS
IN THE EXTENDED PERIOD. ANOTHER SYSTEM IS THEN INDICATED FOR THURSDAY
INTO FRIDAY BEFORE HIGH PRESSURE THEN REBUILDS OVER THE WEST.

[Metalicwx220]

Showers...mainly south of San Francisco. Brief snow showers are possible. Lows in the mid to upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Snow back in the forecast for San Francisco.