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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Thanksgiving travelers in California can expect inclement weather this week, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are expected to be the busiest holiday travel days this year.
An updated forecast from AccuWeather shows the expected weather impacts across the nation as nearly 80 million Americans are set to travel for the holiday, according to AAA.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has several winter-related weather alerts warning of snow for the northeastern half of California. Meanwhile, AccuWeather expects rain to affect central California early in the week.
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Northern California
The NWS office in Eureka, California, issued an urgent winter weather message earlier this week for northern Trinity County, including Highway 3, but the warning has since expired. A freeze watch remains in effect.
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Central California
An atmospheric river arrived in Central California on Monday and will bring rain through Tuesday, NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Allison Santorelli told Newsweek. One of the biggest impacts will be snow in the Sierra Nevada, and Santorelli said there could be travel problems in the mountain passes.
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A forecast issued by the NWS Weather Prediction Center anticipates rain across much of coastal California on Tuesday.
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Santorelli said inclement weather could affect anyone traveling between Los Angeles and San Jose. "There could be some impacts on those roads," she said.
Animated weather radar footage from Windy.com also shows rain and snow moving across Central California on Tuesday morning.
A winter storm warning issued by the NWS office in Hanford will remain in place until Wednesday afternoon, with heavy snow expected in the Sierra Nevada above 7,000 feet. Additional snow accumulations could reach up to 5 feet.
The warning is in place across multiple national parks and for the cities of Lake Thomas Edison, Hume Lake, Lodgepole, Cedar Grove, Wawona, Johnsondale, Giant Forest, Lake Wishon, Devils Postpile, Huntington Lake, Shaver Lake, Florence Lake, Tuolumne Meadows and Grant Grove.
"Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," the warning said. "Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility."
The warning went as far as to urge people to avoid travel, if possible.
"Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility," the warning said. "Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination."
People traveling through the Sacramento forecast region on Tuesday could encounter heavy snow, according to an alert from that NWS office. That alert is in place for the cities of Blue Canyon, Chester and Quincy.
Snow levels could drop to 4,000 feet elevation on Tuesday, with storms producing a few inches of snow.
"Snow-covered roads, chain controls and travel delays are likely, which will result in very difficult travel at times above 5,500 feet," the warning said.
Southern California
Southern California looks to be free of warnings for snow and winter weather, but precipitation could still disrupt travel, according to current NWS alerts. Strong winds also are present in the area as of Tuesday morning.
"Chance for light rain in Southern California Tuesday morning through Wednesday," the NWS office in San Diego wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning. "Highest confidence for Orange County and the Inland Empire as showers will dissipate further south and inland."
By Wednesday, much of California looks clear, except for some rain in the south, according to the NWS Weather Prediction Center's forecast.
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Update 11/26/24, 10:58 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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