By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist
November 14,2015; 11:44PM,EST
A storm system will approach the West Coast into Sunday, bringing a quick shot of chilly air, rain and higher-elevation snow from Washington to California.
While most of the passes will be free from snow into Sunday morning, wet roads and strong winds could lead to some dangerous travel conditions.
"Gusts topping 60 mph can occur, along with fog in some of the passes, so travel may still be hazardous," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
The system will slowly push inland through the weekend, bringing rain to Oregon and northern and central California and significant snowfall across the Cascades and Sierra Nevada on Sunday.
As the cold air dives in into Sunday, snow levels will drop significantly and will cause rain to change to heavy snow as far down in elevation as the Snoqualmie Pass (3,000 feet).
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"Falling temperatures on Sunday and lower snow levels will create a situation where roads will go from wet to slippery and snow covered," AccuWeather Meteorologist Michael Doll said. "This includes Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 down to 3,000 feet through the Washington Cascades."
Another foot or more of snow could fall across the Sierra Nevada into Monday. Between 1 and 2 feet of snow could drop in the Cascades.
The heavy snow could lead to chain laws going into effect for those driving through Donner Pass on Interstate 80 and the Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90.
This storm may bring nothing but a spotty shower from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Accumulating snow will stretch as far inland as the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho and western Montana, the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon and the Great Basin of northern Nevada on Sunday.
"Use caution when driving on snow-covered roadways," Zapolski said. "Give yourself extra time when heading to your destination."
Should you lose control of your car, turn on your flashers, stay in your car and call 911. Never walk outside and away from your car looking for help.
This storm will continue inland into Monday and bring accumulating snow across the Intermountain West. The higher elevations of eastern Idaho, southwestern Montana, the Wasatch Range, and the western Colorado Rockies will revive another batch of accumulating snow.
Snow showers will return to Salt Lake City and Flagstaff, Arizona, with minor accumulations.
This storm will not only bring beneficial precipitation to the Intermountain West, but also another quick shot of chilly air.
High temperatures across the Intermountain West will fail to reach 40 F in most areas on Monday. AccuWeather Realfeel® temperatures will range from the 10s to the 20s in most locals.
This storm will bring rain and higher-elevation snow into the Four Corners region on Monday as it provides fuel for a major storm to ramp up across the central U.S.
The train of storm systems will continue as another storm will bring drenching rain and mountain snow across the Northwest starting late on Monday into Monday night.
Snow levels will rise quickly on Monday night into Tuesday morning as mild Pacific air gets drawn into the Western states.
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Another inch or two of snow can fall across the Snoqualmie Pass on Monday night before snow levels rise well above pass level into Tuesday.
"The storms will be a boost for ski country," Anderson said.
Anderson also said that the stormy pattern in the Northwest will continue over the next few weeks.
There is the possibility that enough rain and snow could end the drought across western Washington by the end of next week. The significant drought across the rest of the West will remain.
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