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The precipitation is much-needed, as many areas are well below their seasonal averages.

Compiled by staff

December 15, 2020

1 Min Read
Storm clouds over trees
Storm clouds develop over trees in far Northern California.Tim Hearden

After a weekend of rain and snow heralded a much-needed weather pattern change for the parched West Coast, a series of storms approaching the region this week could pack more of a punch.

The storms are expected to roll in to the Pacific Northwest every 24-36 hours beginning Tuesday, KHQ-TV in Spokane is reporting. The first storm could bring 1 to 2 inches of snow to the area, then a stronger storm late Wednesday could dump more snow in the mountains while falling as rain on valley floors, according to the NBC affiliate.

Another system next weekend could bring more moderate to heavy snow at higher elevations while creating "a messy mix" on valley floors, the station predicts.

In California, light snowfall lingered in the Sierra Nevada and some showers fell elsewhere on Monday as the second of two weekend storms wrapped up, The Associated Press reported.

Preliminary estimates indicated elevations of the Sierra above 6,500 feet received between 6 inches and 12 inches of snow, according to AP.

“The recent rains have been a welcomed sight,” the National Weather Service's San Francisco Bay Area office wrote.

With only scattered showers expected Tuesday, the next big storm to arrive in the Golden State will be Wednesday, when widespread rain and mountain snow is anticipated with snow levels beginning near pass levels during the day but decreasing overnight, according to the NWS' Sacramento office. Hazardous mountain travel is likely during this storm.

The weekend rain and snow were a welcome sight in the West, where most areas are abnormally dry after a slow start to the water year. The federal Climate Prediction Center envisions greater chances of wet weather in the greater Pacific Northwest but drier weather south of Sacramento over the next 10 days.

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