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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued urgent winter weather alerts across seven states on Thursday morning.
Thousands of people residing in California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii were included in the advisory areas.
Why It Matters
The alerts, issued as winter weather advisories or winter storm warnings depending on the location, come as winter approaches, exposing more and more states to snowy or icy conditions as temperatures drop and storms roll in. The messages issued by the NWS, often classified as urgent, indicate that people should take steps to prepare for poor winter weather and act accordingly, such as delaying travel or slowing down while on the roads.
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What to Know
As of Thursday morning, winter weather advisories were issued in southwestern Alaska, Hawaii's Big Island summits, northern New Mexico, southern Colorado, eastern Utah, pockets of western and southern Nevada, and southern California. The more severe winter storm warning was issued in parts of southern California.
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For the winter storm warning, heavy snow was expected in higher elevations, such as above 6,500 feet in the Riverside County mountains and San Bernardino County mountains. The warning goes into effect on Thursday afternoon and will remain in place through Friday afternoon. Up to 14 inches of snow is possible in the highest elevations.
"Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the warning said. "The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes."
Less snow is expected across the other states, but the weather will still be impactful.
In Alaska, freezing rain and snow up to half an inch were expected at all elevations of Anchorage and Eagle River through noon local time on Thursday. Meanwhile, freezing rain will hit the western Kenai Peninsula, up to 8 inches of snow will hit the inland Bristol Bay and northern Bristol Bay Coast, and up to 6 inches will hit the Kuskokwim Delta. Up to 12 inches could hit the Klondike Highway in Skagway.
In New Mexico, up to 4 inches of snow was expected through early Friday morning for the northern and southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Tusas Mountains and Jemez Mountains.
In Hawaii, NWS meteorologists extended a winter weather advisory that was originally issued earlier in the week as lingering moisture brings light snow and rain to the summits through noon local time on Thursday.
In California, up to 6 inches of snow will hit elevations above 6,000 feet in the northern Ventura County Mountains through Friday morning, as well as up to 8 inches in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County through Friday afternoon. Up to 8 inches of snow will hit the central and northern Sierra Nevada mountains. Snow will also strike the White and Inyo Mountains, and Eastern Sierra Slopes.
In Nevada, varying amounts of snowfall between 2 and 12 inches will fall based on elevation in the Spring Mountains, Red Rock Canyon, and the Sheep Range from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Snow will also fall further north, in the high elevation parts of Mineral and southern Lyon counties.
In Colorado, snow is expected in the high elevation parts of the eastern San Juan Mountains, at Pikes Peak, San Juan Mountains, La Sal and Abajo Mountains.
Beyond the advisories currently in place, NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Scott Kleebauer told Newsweek that most of California would not see any more precipitation through Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, there will be the potential for snow in the central Rocky Mountains, as well as more snow across Colorado and parts of New Mexico on Sunday.
What People Are Saying
NWS in a Thursday forecast: "Light snow over parts of the southern Utah Mountains, the Colorado Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains."
NWS San Diego in a post on X: "Heads up, Southern California! Another weather system is on its way, similar to the one we saw earlier this week. Expect heavy rain and snow starting Thursday afternoon, continuing with showers through early Saturday. Be ready for ponding water on roadways and in low-lying areas!"
What Happens Next
Most winter weather alerts are expected to expire by Friday morning or evening, although NWS meteorologists could issue more alerts if the forecast calls for it. People living in the indicated areas are urged to remain storm aware and drive carefully, as roads could become slippery and dangerous.
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