Winter Storm Warnings have been issued across the Sierra Nevada, White Mountains, Inyo County, Siskiyou County, Yosemite National Park, the Lake Tahoe Basin, and adjacent Nevada ranges as a strong atmospheric river moves into the region.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 16:00 PST Tuesday to 22:00 PST Friday for the Sierra Nevada south of Yosemite National Park, including Hume Lake, Huntington Lake, and Sequoia National Park.

Total snow accumulations of 1.2–2.1 m (4–7 feet) are expected above 2 130 m (7 000 feet), with wind gusts up to 90 km/h (55 mph). Snow levels will lower from 2 100–2 400 m (7 000–8 000 feet) Tuesday evening to around 1 830 m (6 000 feet) by Christmas Day.

For Yosemite National Park (outside the valley), the warning will be in effect until 22:00 PST Friday. Accumulations of 1.5–2.4 m (5–8 feet) of snow are expected with winds up to 90 km/h (55 mph). Snow levels will start near 2 400 m (8 000 feet) Tuesday and gradually lower to 1 830 m (6 000 feet) by Christmas Day.

In southern Inyo County, the White Mountains and Eastern Sierra Slopes are under a Winter Storm Warning from 16:00 PST Tuesday to 16:00 PST Friday.

Snow accumulations are expected to go over 0.9 m (3 feet) above 2 740 m (9 000 feet) and 0.3–0.6 m (1–2 feet) above 2 440 m (8 000 feet). Wind gusts are forecast to reach 90 km/h (55 mph), creating periods of whiteout conditions. Travel on Highway 168 through Westgard Pass may become impossible at times as snow levels drop to around 1 830 m (6 000 feet) by Thursday.

NWS Medford issued a Winter Storm Warning from 04:00 PST Tuesday through 10:00 PST Friday for elevations above 1 370 m (4 500 feet) in Siskiyou County. Snow totals of 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 feet) are expected, with up to 1.5 m (5 feet) in higher terrain near 1 830 m (6 000 feet). Winds could gust to 95 km/h (60 mph), particularly Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning and again on Thursday.

Farther north, the warning effect from 22:00 PST Tuesday through 22:00 PST Friday for the West Slope of Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County. Snow totals of up to 0.3 m (1 foot) between 1 370–1 680 m (4 500–5 500 feet) and 1.2–2.4 m (4–8 feet) above 1 680 m (5 500 feet) are forecast, with winds gusting up to 95 km/h (60 mph).

The Greater Lake Tahoe area remains under a Winter Storm Warning from 22:00 PST Tuesday through 10:00 PST Friday. Communities around Lake Tahoe could see 0.3–0.6 m (1–2 feet) of snow, while elevations above 2 130 m (7 000 feet) could accumulate 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 feet). Wind gusts up to 160 km/h (100 mph) along the highest ridges are likely, causing blowing snow and periodic whiteouts.

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References:

1 Winter Storm Warning – NWS – December 23, 2025