Western Snowstorm Impacting Even Lower Elevations
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A major winter storm plowing through the West is not just unleashing substantial snow and strong winds over the mountains, but also some lower elevations.
It should not shock residents of the West that the winter storm will dump up to a fresh foot or locally more of snow on the mountains of the Rockies and the Sierra today into tonight.
Travel will become nearly impossible in the higher terrain as the combination of the snow and strong winds create dangerous blizzard conditions.
The California Department of Transportation reported Wednesday morning that Interstate 80 was closed through the Sierra due to the adverse weather.
Officials may be forced to close other roads through the mountains, potentially including a portion of Interstate 40 near Flagstaff.
As the storm impacts your area, feel free to upload your storm photos on the AccuWeather.com Facebook fan page.
What may come as a surprise to residents is the substantial snow expected for some lower elevations through tonight.
Moderate to heavy snow accumulations will create treacherous travel in and around Spokane, Wash.; Great Falls, Mont.; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Pendleton, Ore., will measure up to a few inches.
Snow will even make an appearance in Seattle and Portland today. Little, if any of this snow will whiten the ground.
Enough frigid air will plunge southward that snow makes the Grapevine corridor of Interstate 5 in California extremely slippery for motorists late today into early Thursday.
Powerful winds will worsen the situation for travelers through the Grapevine corridor. The winds will greatly reduce visibility by whipping the snow around and threaten to overturn or steer semi-trucks off the interstate.
For a larger version of this map, visit the AccuWeather.com Winter Weather Center.
Strong winds will not be confined to places receiving snow. Winds are already howling in San Francisco and Las Vegas and will strengthen as today progresses from Southern California to West Texas.
These strong winds will do more than create problems for high-profile vehicles. Damage to trees, highway signs and power lines may result. Blowing dust could even become an issue across the southern High Plains.
Airline passengers should also prepare for flight delays. This includes those utilizing the hubs in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Gusty winds will continue to plague the Southwest and southern Plains on Thursday as snow continues to pile up across the central Rockies.
One part of the double-barreled storm will spread snow into the mountains of the Southwest and the foothills and Eastern Plains of Colorado, including Denver.
The other part of the double storm is already pushing snow across the northern Rockies today and the northern Plains before the end of the week.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 107° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 28° | Daniel, WY |
| Precip | 2.39" | Alexandria, MN |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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