Eight Feet (Yes, Feet) of Snow Possible

Australian thunderstorms are the source of moisture for the potentially record-setting snow storms that will strike the Sierra Nevada region from Thursday to Sunday.

Photo: National Weather Service

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Happy New Year. Here's eight feet of snow.

Yes, eight. Yes, feet.

That's what could hit parts of the Northwest, as a series of three storms threatens to drop a record-setting amount of snow starting Thursday and continuing on through the weekend. As if that weren't enough, wind gusts of more than 80 mph are possible (that's Category 1 hurricane strength).

Lake Tahoe and other parts of the Sierra Nevada in California and Nevada are in line for the most snow, according to USA Today.

Here's part of the National Weather Service advisory about the storms.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM 3 TO 5 FEET ARE EXPECTED OVER THE SIERRA NEVADA BETWEEN THURSDAY EVENING AND SATURDAY MORNING ABOVE SNOW LEVELS WITH SEVERAL MORE FEET OF SNOW POSSIBLE AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS. SNOWFALL IS LIKELY TO ACCUMULATE AT A RATE OF SEVERAL INCHES PER HOUR AT TIMES THROUGH THE WATCH PERIOD WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL EXPECTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE STRONGER SECOND SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY SNOWFALL...STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED. WIND SPEED GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE THURSDAY NIGHT SYSTEM AND WIND SPEED GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE SECOND SYSTEM. THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND POWERFUL WIND WILL LIKELY CAUSE FREQUENT WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. TRAVEL OVER THE HIGHER PASSES WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT...IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES BETWEEN THURSDAY EVENING AND SATURDAY MORNING. ... FOUR DAY SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 8 FEET ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH SUNDAY IN THE SIERRA.

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