Major Winter Storm Warning Announced as 60 mph Wind Gusts, 3 Feet of Snow Approach

Multiple areas of the United States have been buried in heavy snowfall throughout the past month, from the Great Lakes to New York.

Now, the National Weather Service has issued an urgent storm warning for parts of California. The storm warning runs from 4 p.m. PST on January 3 through 4 p.m. PST January 5.

"Heavy snow expected above 5000 feet in Siskiyou County. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 18 inches, with 24 to 36 inches for the highest peaks and ridgelines. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph over high and exposed terrain," the warning notes.

Travel May Become Impossible, Partly Due to the Strong Winds

Where is the dangerous weather expected? According to NWS: "This includes the following passes or notable locations... Etna Summit on Sawyers Bar Rd at 5950 ft. Mt. Shasta ski park highway at 5462 ft. Bunny Flat on Everitt Memorial highway at 6900 ft. Grass Lake at Mt. Hebron at 5291 ft."

The warning continues, "Travel may be very difficult to impossible. Strong winds could cause tree branches to break and fall."

Other areas of the country are also still being hit with bad weather, according to NWS's weather forecast map. "Lake effect snow showers will continue through Saturday downwind of Lakes Erie, Ontario and the eastern portion of Lake Superior. A series of storm systems will continue to impact California and the Pacific Northwest through the weekend and into next week, bringing widespread rainfall, mountain snowfall, and gusty winds. Coastal flooding is expected in northern California," the Weather Service wrote on January 2.

California is dealing with more than snow. "A slow moving upper-trough approaching the West Coast will help to funnel Pacific moisture towards California bringing yet another Atmospheric River event heading into the weekend," the warning says.

Some Counties in New York State Are Also Being Hit With Heavy Snowfall

Wayne and Northern Cayuga Counties in New York State also may see heavy snow.

A winter storm warning is in effect for those counties through Saturday night.

• "Heavy lake effect snow. Additional snow accumulations 8 to 18 inches. Snowfall rates of 3-5 inches per hour possible in the most intense portion of the band, lessening to 1-2 inches per hour overnight," NWS wrote.

• "The greatest accumulations will focus in a small area of extreme northeast Wayne and far northern Cayuga counties. The remainder of those counties will see minimal snowfall."

Added the NWS: "Ongoing lake effect snows, particularly downwind of Lakes Ontario and Erie, will persist given the frigid, westerly flow across the fetch. Showers and thunderstorms expected for the interior Southeast today and near the East and Gulf coasts Saturday as a quick moving upper-wave and accompanying low pressure/frontal system moves trough."

The Weather Service noted, "Across the West, moderate to locally heavy snows will continue for some of the mountain ranges of the Northern/Central Rockies and Great Basin as an upper-wave passes over the region today before tapering off into the evening. Snowfall is expected to pick back up for portions of the northern Rockies as the upper-trough from the west approaches later Saturday."

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