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Atmospheric River Bringing Heavy Rain to Southern California and Heavy Snow to the Sierra Nevadas

A strong atmospheric river will continue heavy rain over southern California through Friday. The heaviest rainfall is ongoing today in the Los Angeles Basin. Flash and urban flooding is possible. A prolonged heavy snowfall has begun over the Sierra Nevada Mountains and will continue through Friday. Travel will become increasingly difficult over the passes due to snow and strong winds. Read More >

Overview

The first major winter storm of the season hit the region on December 4th. Surface low pressure tracked from the central Rockies into southern Minnesota, and then northward toward the Great Lakes region. This track is ideal for heavy snow and blizzard conditions across the northern plains, which placed the region in cold sector of the storm. The precipitation started off as rain and/or freezing rain Monday morning across much of the area, which placed a layer of ice below the snowfall and increased the hazardous nature of the storm. Increasing winds brought blizzard conditions to portions of the Red River Valley during the afternoon and early evening hours before the winds and snowfall finally ended by Tuesday morning.
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