Snow for the west from a pair of low pressure systems

26 Dec 2020, 5:20 am

A pair of low pressure systems moving onshore from the Pacific Ocean means snow, snow, and more snow for parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern California this weekend. Winter weather alerts are in place for 4-6″ of snow in lower elevations and more than a foot possible in higher elevations and mountains.

The first system will produce on and off rain and snow through Saturday as mositure works inland. An Alberta clipper system will also drop quickly through Montana, bringing an additional round of snow there.

Storm totals could reach several feet between now and early Monday morning, especially in the Cascades.

The second, stronger system will take a more southern track and affect southern California and the Four Corners region Sunday through Tuesday.

Accumulations could be more than a foot in the mountains of California through mid-week with lower elevations picking up anywhere from 3-6″.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest updates on these systems, and drive safe this weekend!

About the author

Kara James

Kara has always been passionate about weather and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a meteorologist. Living in different regions of the country and experiencing weather events ranging from ice storms to tornadoes drove her to pursue a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout college, storm chasing became a regular event for Kara, where she saw fir... Load Morest-hand the power of the atmosphere. Kara graduated cum laude from OU and decided to further her meteorology education with a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. The deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak struck while Kara was studying at MSU; her first “Dixie Alley” tornado event and an up close glimpse into the destruction of the storms she so closely studied. Her broadcast career began in Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi, where she earned her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Kara's career has included coverage of all types of severe weather including tornado events, flooding and tropical systems across multiple southern states. Recently she helped cover the 2020 Easter Sunday deadly tornado outbreak in southeast Mississippi. In her free time, you can find Kara outdoors exploring new areas with her mini poodle,Truffles. Kara is also an avid runner and frequently races in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. Say hi to Kara on Twitter and Facebook!