Atmospheric river lashes California with heavy rain and wind

Feet of snow has fallen in the California mountains — and there's more to come
From Meteorologist Mary Gilbert and Stephanie Elam

While rain pounds Southern California, heavy snow is burying some of the state's mountains. Winter storm alerts are in effect through Tuesday afternoon for portions of the Sierra Nevada and Southern California’s mountain ranges.

Parts of the Sierras have already recorded more than two feet of snow this week with several more inches to come into Tuesday.

In Southern California, the heaviest snow will target the highest elevations of the San Gabriel, Ventura County and San Bernardino mountains through Tuesday. Several feet of snow may bury these ranges by the storm’s end, mainly above pass level.

Heavy, wet snow will still reach pass level for some travelers and pose “very difficult-to-impossible” conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

The snow is necessary for California’s snowpack, which has been beleaguered by warmth and storms that have brought more rain than snow. This winter’s snowpack was just 52% of average for this time of year as of Tuesday, according to the latest survey conducted by the state’s Department of Water Resources.

Snowpack is a vital water source, and the survey helps California to forecast how much water will be available for the rest of the year.