Storm train to persist across western US into early week

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 8:22PM,EDT

 

A pair of storms with rain, wind and mountain snow will impact the West Coast of the United States into early this week.
The bulk of the rain is expected to focus on northern California northward to Washington and eastward to Idaho and Montana into Monday.
Lighter showers will dampen Southern California, mainly from Los Angeles northward.
The first storm will spread rain, mountain snow and gusty winds across the West Coast into Monday morning.

The heaviest rain associated with the storm will focus on northwestern California and the western slopes of the northern Sierra.
"Upwards of 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected across northern California with this storm," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott.
A few showers could reach as far south as Los Angeles, but rainfall totals will likely stay under 0.10 of an inch outside of the southwestern slopes of the mountains.
Batches of showers and heavier downpours are expected to expand north and east from Sunday into Monday, reaching areas from Seattle to Billings, Montana.
Flooding will mostly be localized, but any areas under the most persistent downpours may experience minor street and stream flooding.
The greatest threat for mudslides will exist in recent burn areas.
A gusty breeze will pick up as the storm moves through, with most areas experiencing wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph. The highest winds will likely target Nevada, where gusts between 40 and 50 mph are predicted.
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The strongest winds can lead to very sporadic power outages and minor tree damage, given the saturated nature of the soil from rainfall this past week.
In addition to the wet weather, there will also be a wintry side to the storm as feet of snow target the Sierra Nevada and Teton Mountains.
"Snow levels will drop down to Interstate 80 at Donner Pass, California, during Sunday and Sunday night," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Snowfall could reach 2 feet in the Sierra Nevada, creating dangerous travel conditions for anyone without tire chains.
Strong wind gusts will also howl, making travel nearly impossible for a time. Officials may be forced to close roads for a time.
The heaviest snow, in excess of 6 inches, will fall above 7,000 feet, but snow can lightly coat grassy and elevated surfaces down to 5,500 feet later on Sunday.
"Skiers will certainly be happy with the snow," Elliott said.
As quickly as the first storm exits the region, a second, much weaker storm will push inland with some rain across northern California from late on Monday into Tuesday.
During the middle to latter part of the new week, the storm track will shift farther north and aim for the Pacific Northwest and coast of British Columbia.

"Toward midweek, a vigorous storm will pound British Columbia and northern and western Washington with rain and gusty winds," Elliott said.
Accuweather meteorologists expect this stormy pattern to persist across the Northwest and northern California into the start of winter.