California Under Alert: Winter Storm Threatens More Snow and Dangerous Road Conditions

Winter storm warning issued in California

Heavy snowfall expected

Dangerous mountain travel

A winter storm warning has been issued for parts of northern and central California.

Snowfall continues to impact the state this weekend, according to USA Today.

Authorities warn that more than 30 centimeters of additional snow could accumulate.

Winter storm in California impacts mountainous areas

Snow levels have dropped fairly quickly as the cold air has moved into NorCal. Snow levels are currently around 3500-4000 ft in the Sierra. The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through Sunday evening & mountain travel is highly discouraged! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/MreuQUttUU

— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) April 12, 2026

This comes in regions that have already recorded recent accumulations.

The system is mainly affecting higher-elevation mountainous areas.

Weather conditions are complicating mobility and increasing road risks under the California winter storm alert.

Affected areas under the winter storm warning

4/11/26 9:45am Update:
We received 7.9″ (20 cm) of wet, dense #snow over the last day.

Our next storm, shown coming on shore in the GOES-West weather satellite imagery, will bring colder temps and more snow (18-36″) to us this evening through Sunday.#weather #CAwater pic.twitter.com/UVFI0gs7hC

— UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab (@UCB_CSSL) April 11, 2026

The National Weather Service activated the warning for specific high-elevation regions.

These include the western slopes of the northern Sierra Nevada.

It also covers western Plumas County and Lassen Volcanic National Park.

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The affected areas are located above 4,500 feet in elevation.

Cities impacted include Chester, Blue Canyon, and Quincy.

These locations fall within the highest-impact zone.

Conditions are concentrated in mountainous areas where snowfall is heaviest.

There, accumulation and wind intensify the situation within the California winter storm alert.

Snow accumulation and dangerous winds

The warning calls for additional snowfall between 30 and 45 centimeters.

This applies to elevations above 1,370 meters.

At higher peaks, snowfall could reach up to 60 centimeters.

At lower elevations, an additional 5 to 10 centimeters is expected.

The National Weather Service also warned of strong wind gusts.

These could reach speeds of up to 72 kilometers per hour.

Roads remain slippery across multiple mountainous areas.

For this reason, travel is strongly discouraged during the alert.

The warning will remain in effect until 11:00 p.m. on April 12.

Authorities urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Extreme conditions and other weather events in California

The new snowfall follows accumulations recorded over the weekend.

Some areas had already received several centimeters of snow.

The Central Sierra Snow Lab reported nearly eight inches on April 11.

The snow was described as wet and dense.

An additional 18 to 36 inches is expected between the night of April 11 and April 12.

Northern California is also facing other severe weather conditions.

Thunderstorms and short bursts of heavy rain are expected.

Erratic winds and hail up to one inch in size are also possible.

There is a low probability of weak tornadoes.

Other parts of the state have already experienced thunderstorms and lightning.

The Sacramento Valley has reported flooding.

Meanwhile, other regions of the United States will see rising temperatures.

In the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, temperatures could reach up to 31°C.

This warming trend is expected between April 14 and 16.

It sharply contrasts with the winter conditions affecting California under the California winter storm alert.