Winter Storm Warning. Biggest one yet. Be Careful!

It is finally here.  The last wave did sweep through the Sierra and left behind a few inches along the western slope.  Not much, other than a few clouds, seemed to happen down by the coast.  But one look out the window this morning, and you clearly see that is all about to change.  Thick clouds and wind filled in last night.  A few showers have passed through, but it is not too wet out there.  With some luck, we could see mostly drizzle today.  Not much more.  Depends how this thing sweeps in.  The Sierra will bear the brunt of it, with six inches at 5000 feet and several feet along the Sierra Crest by late Wednesday.  That six inches will soon get washed away, by the next round that hits Thursday.  Freezing levels are going to rise up to near 8000 feet.  Several more feet above that before this thing really starts to ramp up on Friday.  And into Saturday.  In short, it is going to dump.

Glove Rock about to get plastered.  A crazy week ahead at elevation.

Now, I know a lot of folks have been itching for snow, and finally here it comes.  Multiple feet.  Over a hundred inches by the end of the weekend.  Just want to say, that driving conditions, especially Thursday through Saturday are going to be miserable at best.  Traffic, accidents, white outs, chain controls - you name it.  Unless you are very experienced at driving in very stormy conditions, you may want to think about waiting it out.  More snow is on the way through next week, so you may want to wait until next weekend, which could be sunny.  Snow will taper on Sunday, but the road crews will have been working hard all week.  So if you do go up, plan accordingly.  Add 50% to your usual travel time.  Pack extra clothes, blankets, food, water, emergency kits.  And don't forget your chains, and to slow down.  This thing is going to get gnarly up there.  And if you do go up, bring your powder boards. Anything less won't even cut it.  Unlikely you see much in the way of groomed terrain.  It is going to be a whopper.

Details for down here.  Clouds and wind today.  Drizzle and chances of heavier rain as the day goes on. About 60F today.  It will get heavy overnight and through the first half of Wednesday.  Then maybe a break before the next wave comes in Thursday and through Friday.  Things warm up to almost the mid 60s on Thursday, before dropping to the mid 50s on Saturday.  Rain will be heaviest late Thursday and Friday. And it continues on Saturday, before turning to more sporadic showers on Sunday.  It stays cool through the weekend.  Next week starts of kind of wet.