A cold front from the Gulf of Alaska began to bring dropping temperatures, rain and snow to Northern California on Friday, prompting mid-spring highway closures and a “winter weather advisory.”
of severe weather SFGATE reported that it “swooped down” on the state on Friday night and began dumping rain on Saturday.
Temperatures across the state are expected to remain between 5 and 20 degrees below normal through Monday, the paper said.
“The impressive low pressure system in the second half of the season [a] Short, sharp, cold rain (and over 4k feet of mountain snow) [weekend]” Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote in X. [with] Light rain falls in Southern California. It will be a pretty cold system by May standards. ”
This weekend, an impressive late-season low will bring short, sharp, cold rain (and mountain snow above about 4,000 feet). Just about anywhere in NorCal, you’ll find plenty of soaking in SoCal for a light shower. It’s going to be a pretty cold system by May standards… [1/4] #CAwx pic.twitter.com/9aHL8XD4iy
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) May 3, 2024
With snow levels down to 2,500 feet above sea level in coastal areas, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Eureka issued a “winter weather advisory” warning of “severe weather and possible traffic delays Saturday morning.”
An unusually cold storm for early May will bring snow to the mountains late tonight into Saturday. One to three inches of rain is expected early Saturday morning above 2,500 feet. Severe weather is expected Saturday morning, with potential travel delays expected. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/IiEiO3aRlu
— NWS Eureka (@NWSEureka) May 3, 2024
“Inland valleys in the area extending between the California-Oregon border and Lake County may see overnight freezing to near-freezing low pressure Saturday and Sunday nights,” SFGATE added. .
The Bay Area was also hit by the storm, with the NWS issuing a warning for parts of the San Francisco Peninsula due to “minor flooding” on highways, roads and underpasses.
Flooding of urban areas and streams is expected due to excessive rainfall. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/hdv4YYXZV5
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) May 4, 2024
By Sunday morning, the Bay Area was nearly dry again.
“It’s going to be pretty much a one-day event,” said NWS Bay Area forecaster Alexis Crozer.
The California Department of Transportation diverted traffic in both directions near Lake Tahoe Saturday afternoon after Interstate 80 was hit with “heavy snow and multiple spinouts.”
On Sunday morning, authorities reopened the area to vehicles with chains and snow tires.
The winter storm is expected to weaken as it heads into Southern California, with weather officials expecting light rain.
