UPDATE 7:33 a.m.: The first of two storm systems is moving through Northern California Thursday.
Mike Smith is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He says we'll see rain today and scattered showers Friday.
"In the valley, maybe about a half an inch or so, that's what they received overnight up in the northern Sacramento Valley and that is slowly heading this way," says Smith.
The storm is brining strong winds. A "wind advisory" is in effect through 9 a.m. Thursday morning. Wind gusts could be as high as 26 miles per hour.
A "wind advisory" means the gusts can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Smith says in the Sierra, snow levels will start around 6,000 feet and could come down as low as the 4,000 or 3,000-foot elevation.
"It really varies, but they could get up to a couple of feet if you include everything from today and tomorrow," says Smith.
Smith says that weekend skiers should expect mostly clear skies on Saturday followed by stormy travel delays on Sunday when another system about the same size and intensity hits.
Original Post: A strong cold front is sweeping across Northern California, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and high-elevation snow in the Sierra.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a "wind advisory" through 9 a.m. Thursday. Wind gusts could be as high as 26 miles per hour.
A "wind advisory" means the gusts can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
Forecasters say South Lake Tahoe could get 3 to 7 inches of new snow accumulation Thursday and another 5 to 9 inches Thursday night.
With several major storms predicted for the region this week, Yosemite National Park is closing Tioga Road for the season. Tioga Road typically closes each fall and remains closed throughout the winter months.
The road reopens when weather conditions allow in the spring. Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park.
-Capital Public Radio Staff
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