Rain slowing traffic in California on Feb. 17, 2005. Photo from Flickr user Knot. By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist
Mar 23, 2012; 12:08 PM ET
About a week after the St. Patrick's Day storm unleashed heavy rain and mountain snow in California, another storm looms for this weekend.A storm with a cold core will approach the California coast, bringing rain and fairly low snow levels for this time of year again.
The storm will first spread rain and mountain snow into northern California on Saturday into Saturday night.
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Rain, low clouds and gusty winds will likely result in flight delays at the San Francisco International Airport, while the rain may slow travel on the ground as well.
Meanwhile, a foot of snow will thump over the Sierras at elevations of 5,000 feet.
"The resorts in the south-central Sierra will get the most snow probably 15 to 25 inches above 7,000 feet," Ken Clark, Accuweather.com expert senior meteorologist, said. Winds gusting past 45 mph will also contribute to some blowing snow that will further cause hazardous travel through mountain passes such as Donner Pass.
As colder air arrives, Clark said snow levels will plummet to 3,500 feet in the central Sierra by late Sunday and Sunday night.
"Rainfall amounts in central and southwest California will average 0.75 to 1.50 inches," Clark said. Rainfall of 2-3 inches will fall in topographically favored areas.
It is possible that some thunderstorms also develop over southern California later Sunday into Sunday night. A few storms capable of producing hail cannot be ruled out.
While rain soaks lower elevations, it will be snow that falls over elevations of 6,000 feet at the onset of precipitation. Snow levels will drop as low as 4,000 feet Sunday night. "Resorts in Southern California [will] pick up 1-2 feet with the highest amounts probably in the San Gabriel Range," Clark added.
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