Storms to bring rain, thunder and Sierra Nevada snow to California
Two storms will track into California and the Southwest, bringing showers, gusty thunderstorms and travel impacts, with heavier rain and Sierra Nevada snow expected late in the weekend.
California could receive a month’s worth of rain this weekend as two storms move through; heavy rain, thunderstorms, and 1–5 feet of Sierra snow are expected with gusty winds and travel impacts.
A pair of storms will move into California and then the Southwest through this weekend, bringing much-needed rain, gusty thunderstorms and the risk of travel-snarling snow in the high elevations along Interstate 80.
The first, and warmer, of the two storms moved inland across California from Thursday into Friday night. The storm will then weaken over the interior West this weekend. Most of its moisture has already wrung out over California as showers, with only a bit of snow falling over the highest terrain in the northern Sierra Nevada and Siskiyous.
Showers can occur at any time in San Francisco through the weekend due to both storms, with the second moving ashore in Northern California later Saturday before drifting inland Sunday. The first spotty showers will not reach Los Angeles and San Diego until early Saturday morning.
Farther inland, spotty gusty thunderstorms with small hail occurred over California’s Central Valley on Friday. Any gusty shower or thunderstorm should hold off for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Indio, California, until later Saturday or Saturday night.
Showers or thunderstorms may not reach Las Vegas until Sunday and Phoenix until Monday.
It may take until Sunday before any shower or thunderstorm reaches Las Vegas and Monday for the same in Phoenix. Much of the shower activity is likely to slice to the north of these locations.
Gusty winds ahead of the storms and associated thunderstorms will kick up dust, which can be a hazard for motorists and those spending time outdoors.
The second storm, which will be stronger and colder, has the potential to bring heavier, steadier rain to portions of Northern and Central California, as well as heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada, including Donner Pass along I-80.
The high country of the Sierra Nevada (above 6,500 feet) is forecast to pick up 1-3 feet of snow from later Saturday to Sunday evening, and road conditions along a 25- to 50-mile stretch over the high ground along I-80 will be slushy to snow covered. Snow could fall heavily enough and long enough to temporarily close Donner Pass. Over the highest ridges and peaks, 3-5 feet of snow may pile up from both storms into Sunday night.
Despite some major storms this winter, they were generally sporadic, with long periods of little or no snow. As a result, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is below the 30-year average for the 2025-2026 season and in the lowest 25th percentile, according to the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.
The graph shows accumulated snowfall (inches) for the season to date (red) versus the range of snowfall from prior winters over a recent 30-year period (gray). (Central Sierra Storm Laboratory)
Many reservoirs are near full capacity with enough water to meet summer and fall demand.
Total rainfall in California this weekend will be generous from the atmosphere. A general 0.50 to 2 inches of rain is forecast for all of the state except the deserts in the Southeast and over the high country. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for rainfall is 6 inches.
Melting snow from the high country helps to keep streams and rivers flowing for irrigation. Drought conditions remain significant farther inland across the Colorado basin due to a lack of winter storms in recent months. There is a large patch of exceptional drought, the highest category, in western Colorado.
A prolonged heat wave in March quickly reduced some of the high-country snow that would otherwise have melted gradually in the weeks and months ahead. The upcoming storm will help a bit in the Sierra Nevada and Siskiyou in the short term.
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Locally heavy rain from thunderstorms, along with broader rainfall in Northern and Central California, may trigger sporadic mudslides and cause ponding on poorly drained roads.
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