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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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"Unfathomable" amounts of snow will begin falling in California on Thursday as a severe winter storm approaches the state.
Much of the U.S. experienced turbulent weather this week as a winter storm brought varying temperatures, severe thunderstorms and a tornado risk to the Midwest and heavy snow, rain and strong winds to the Pacific Northwest. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Sacramento shared an updated snowfall map that shows which cities will get hit hardest in the Golden State.
"The National Weather Service is forecasting 114 INCHES (almost 10 feet) of snow to fall in just 48 hours near Donner Pass this Thursday to Saturday," storm chaser and weather expert Colin McCarthy posted on X (formerly Twitter), with an image of the map.
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"Easily the most extreme blizzard forecast I've ever seen in California," he continued. "Up to 160 inches of snow could fall on the highest peaks through Sunday, with gusts over 150+ mph possible. Unfathomable amounts of snow and wind – not a storm you want to mess with."
The map shows that for the northern half of California, Blue Canyon is expected to receive the most snow, up to 114 inches. Other areas anticipating substantial snow amounts are Alder Springs, at up to 24 inches; Quincy, at 36 inches; and Yosemite Valley, with 30 inches.
NWS meteorologist David Rowe told Newsweek that a few flurries have started to fall in the higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada. Snowfall rates will increase by mid-morning on Thursday.
"This will be comparable to some of the stronger storms we had last winter," Rowe said.
A blizzard warning is in place, and the NWS office in Hanford, California, warned that travel should be only for emergencies.
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"Travel will be dangerous to impossible. Widespread blowing snow will reduce visibilities to near zero in whiteout conditions at times," the blizzard warning said. "Damaging winds and heavy snow could down trees and power lines. Wind chill readings as low as 15 to 20 degrees below zero can cause frostbite on exposed skin."
In addition to mountain snow, the storm will bring "moderate rainfall" to the valley and parts of the foothills, according to a post by the NWS office in Sacramento.
"Expect slick roadways & longer than normal travel. Isolated t-storms are possible on Fri & Sat as well & may bring locally heavier rain," the post said.
The NWS Weather Prediction Center forecasts that snow could fall at a rate of up to 3 inches per hour. Some foothill communities could face snow over the weekend as cold arrives in the region, plunging temperatures to up to 20 degrees below normal.
Meteorologists warned that the blizzard conditions in the mountains will cause "long-lasting disruptions to daily life."
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