Sierra Nevada prepares for most powerful winter storm: More than 100 inches of snow expected

A blizzard lasting days will blast the Sierra Nevada and Siskiyous with tremendous snow into this weekend with the likelihood of travel shutdowns and life-threatening conditions - reports AccuWeather

Snowfall commenced in California's Sierra Nevada on Thursday, with forecasters predicting it would persist throughout the weekend. The region is bracing for as much as 10 feet of snow due to a winter storm, according to meteorologists.

"The snow will fall at the rate of 4 inches per hour at times, while 60- to 75-mph winds will create a dangerous blizzard with mountainous snowdrifts," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

The weather service indicated that the risk of avalanches across all elevations in the eastern Sierra was anticipated to escalate to a high level by Friday. "By late afternoon, increasing snowfall and strong to extreme southwest winds will build dense slabs at all elevations. Conditions will continue to deteriorate overnight and throughout the weekend," the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center said in an alert.

According to AccuWeather, The storm is expected to lead to potentially lethal travel conditions on two key highways in California. "Donner Pass, California, along Interstate 80 and segments of I-5 in Northern California to Siskiyou Summit in southern Oregon are likely to close," said Bernie Rayno.

The substantial snowfall rates and the potential inability of road crews to manage the storm's intensity until its conclusion late this weekend significantly increase the risk of drivers being stranded. This situation affects routes leading to and from the ski resorts in the area. For those trapped outdoors during the storm, the conditions could pose a life-threatening risk - reports AccuWeather

Source: NBC News, Accuwheater