Storm Brings Rain, Wind, and Unusual Low-Altitude Snow to Northern California

Cars drive along Highway 101 as rain falls in Greenbrae, Calif., on Jan. 4, 2023. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO—A low-pressure system is bringing rain and gusts to the Bay Area, with unusually low-dropping snow, according to Jeff Lorber, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) Monterey station.

Lorber told The Epoch Times that the storm, which is caused by a low-pressure system from the Pacific Northwest, will mainly hit the San Francisco Bay Area late at night on Feb. 23 and will “bring winds, rain, and snow at high elevation.”

The storm will last overnight into the morning of Feb. 24, according to the NWS.

“The rain and wind will be impacting most of the Bay Area,” Lorber said.

He said the wind gusts will be around 30 miles per hour and maybe close to 40 miles per hour for some areas, such as the hills.

“It definitely won’t be a good day, good night, or good morning for travel,” he said.

Lorber also warned that the snow will be falling mainly above 1,000 feet and will create hazardous conditions for driving.

“Let’s say into the Santa Cruz Mountains, the road will be icy and slippery and traveling is not recommended unless it’s essential, throughout the night to Friday morning,” he said.

There have already been cool and showery conditions throughout Thursday, and the NWS has been collecting snow reports from residents in the Bay Area at high altitudes. On the NWS Bay Area/Monterey Facebook page, snow was reported by residents at altitudes as low as 600 feet (the Zayante area of Felton) and 800 feet (Los Altos Hills).

“It is pretty unusual to see snow levels that are dropping this low. Even some areas right near sea level could see some snowflakes, which is unusual for this area,” Lorber said.

He also said that the temperature could dip below freezing in areas of higher elevation or in valleys on the night of Feb. 24, after the weather clears.

Areas along the coast in Northern California will be seeing more snow as the main storm hits.

Meanwhile, Southern California has been put under a rare blizzard warning for the first time in over three decades. According to the NWS, by Feb. 25, up to 8 feet of snow could accumulate on Mount Baldy northeast of Los Angeles.

On Feb. 23, a different weather system impacted the northern parts of the continental United States. North and South Dakota, Colorado, Michigan, and Wyoming were all affected.

Bad weather contributed to delays or cancellations of more than 8,000 flights across the nation on Feb. 22, FlightAware.com data showed.