Late-Season Winter Storm Hits Western US

A late-season winter storm barreled into the western United States on Tuesday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue warnings for heavy snow and gale-force winds across the Sierra Nevada mountains and surrounding regions in California and Nevada. The system, unusual for mid-April, threatened travel disruptions and hazardous conditions through Wednesday afternoon, with snow accumulations up to two feet possible at the highest elevations.

The storm originated from a Pacific weather system pushing moisture eastward across the Great Basin and Intermountain West, delivering widespread rain at lower elevations and intense snowfall in mountainous terrain. In the Sierra Nevada, above 7,000 feet, forecasters predicted 3 to 5 inches of snow overall, escalating to 12 to 18 inches in higher areas and potentially two feet on peaks. Snow levels began around 6,000 to 7,000 feet late Monday night, dropping to 4,500 to 5,500 feet by Wednesday as colder air deepened. The heaviest bands were expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Southwest winds fueled the onslaught, gusting to 50 mph in valleys and ridges, and reaching 75 to 90 mph along exposed...