When will this endless winter end?

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URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
401 AM PDT SAT MAY 28 2011

…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT…

.AN UNSEASONABLY COLD LOW PRESSURE AND COLD FRONT WILL SPREAD
BANDS OF SNOW OVER NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN.

CAZ071-282300-
/O.NEW.KREV.WW.Y.0025.110528T2100Z-110529T0600Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…PORTOLA…SUSANVILLE
401 AM PDT SAT MAY 28 2011

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL INCREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE
INTO THE EVENING MAINLY ACROSS WESTERN LASSEN COUNTY…AND
CENTRAL PORTIONS OF PLUMAS AND SIERRA COUNTIES.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 5 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 395 NEAR AND
ABOVE 5000 FEET. EAST OF HIGHWAY 395 AND IN LOWER
ELEVATIONS…UP TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

* SNOW LEVELS: 5000 TO 5500 FEET…THEN LOWERING TO THE VALLEY
FLOOR BY LATE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS: SLICK AND SNOW COVERED ROADS MAINLY ABOVE 5000 FEET
DURING PERIODS OF HEAVIER SNOW. CHAIN CONTROLS POSSIBLE BY THIS
EVENING OVER YUBA PASS AND FREDONYER SUMMIT…HIGHWAY 89 NORTH
OF TRUCKEE AND HIGHWAY 44 WEST OF SUSANVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO POSE AN INCONVENIENCE TO TRAVELERS. ROADS
WILL BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS…WITH SNOW AND ICE FIRST
DEVELOPING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN
AND USE CAUTION. CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

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Here’s a link to video of one of the tornadoes that touched down in Butte County California yesterday.

Northern CA Tornado 5-25-2011

NWS Sacramento will be conducting surveys today to determine the number of tornadoes and their strength.

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The National Weather Service in Sacramento has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down today near Chico, CA. A Tornado Warning continues to be in effect until 7:30 pm PDT for Central Butte County. To read more about the tornado and see a photo of it, visit this link: 2 Tornadoes Touch Down in Northern California

On top of that, a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Sierra Nevada through 6am Thrusday. 2-4 inches of snow are forecast above 5000 ft with larger amounts possible at the higher elevations.

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Severe weather didn’t quite materialize for us along Lake Michigan’s shore yesterday. The strongest storms, on the leading edge of the cold front, fell apart as they hit the cooler air along the lake. At the time the storms came in there was an 18 degree difference in temperature from the lake shore to 10 miles inland. That was enough to weaken the storms considerably.

We did get to see a nice shelf cloud as the leading edge of storms came in though. Here is a two image pano I shot from our balcony. Click the image to enlarge.

These storms were moving at 60-70 mph as they came through Kenosha County. I was expecting all hell to break loose after the shelf cloud passed, but it didn’t happen this time. I just missed an awesome lightning photo while shooting this pano. A large tangle of lightning appeared just above the trees and stayed there for about 5-10 seconds. More than enough time to take a picture, but I was moving to a new position and wasn’t ready for it.

We did end up with .55″ of rain last night and another .04″ this morning. Next system moves in on Tuesday night and Wednesday. It’s currently forecast to bring close to an inch of rain.

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