A "BLIZZARD" FOR PARTS OF CALIFORNIA
Posted: (October 04, 2008 12:06 pm)

WINTER STORM WARNING
Issue Date: 304 AM PDT SAT OCT 04 2008
Expiration: 500 PM PDT SAT OCT 04 2008

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BRIDGEPORT...COLEVILLE...LEE VINING...
MAMMOTH LAKES
303 AM PDT SAT OCT 4 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON. 

STRONG WINDS AND SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ARE EXPECTED IN THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF MONO COUNTY TODAY. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER
THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH SPEEDS OF 20 TO 40 MPH AND GUSTS UP TO
60 MPH. GUSTS TO 95 MPH ARE EXPECTED AT THE RIDGES.  

SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO AROUND 8000 FEET BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
SNOWFALL TOTALS ABOVE 9000 FEET WILL BE AROUND A FOOT WITH LOCAL
ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 18 INCHES. ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN 8000 FEET
AND 9000 FEET COULD REACH UP TO 4 INCHES...WITH LOCATIONS BELOW
8000 FEET RECEIVING MOSTLY RAIN.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUS
NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN THE BACK COUNTRY OF THE HIGH SIERRA.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TRAVEL OVER TIOGA PASS OR SONORA PASS...CHECK
THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS AS THESE PASSES MAY BE CLOSED TODAY.
SNOWFALL ALONG HIGHWAY 395 IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN MINIMAL AT THE
HIGHEST PASSES ALTHOUGH GUSTY WINDS AND WET ROADWAYS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL HAZARDOUS.

IN ADDITION...STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MAMMOTH LAKES AREA
THIS AFTERNOON. AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA...WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO TURN TO THE NORTHWEST. IF CERTAIN PARAMETERS COME
TOGETHER...THESE WINDS MAY FUNNEL DOWN INTO MAMMOTH LAKES AND INTO
LAKE CROWLEY WHERE GUSTS COULD EXCEED 60 MPH. MAKE SURE TO TIE DOWN
ANY LOOSE ITEMS AND BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERAL HOURS
OF STRONG WINDS LATE THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOG ON TO THE  N.W.S. WEBSITE AT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES ON THIS WINTER STORM.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN PINK
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN BLUE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN GREEN
WIND ADVISORY IN TAN