Update: Weekend Winter Storm Warning For The Mother Lode

Photo taken by: John Adema

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County above 3,000 feet, from 10 AM this morning (Saturday) until 4 AM Monday. A Winter Storm Warning has also been issued for the Mother Lode and the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada, from 10 AM this morning through 10 AM Monday.

The snow levels will mostly range between 1,500 to 2,500 feet, briefly lower on Sunday and Monday mornings.

The heaviest snowfall is expected from Saturday afternoon through Sunday.

The total snow accumulations will range from four to eighteen inches above the 2,000 foot elevation. Above 3,000 feet, the total snow accumulations will range from one to five feet. The higher you go, the more the snow.

Winds are forecast to gust as high as fifty-five to seventy mph. Winds will be highest over the exposed ridgetops and the crest of the Sierra Nevada. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage. Cold wind chills, as low as thirty mph below zero, could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as thirty minutes.

Travel could be very difficult to impossible with the potential for prolonged road closures. Blowing snow will cause white-out conditions at times. Downed trees and tree limbs with power outages are possible due to heavy snow and gusty winds.

Travel impacts, along with additional snow accumulations, are also possible Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.