Snow Forecast: Blizzard conditions for Sierra Nevada Mountains

Widespread rain is expected across much of California this weekend, particularly along coastal areas. Rainfall totals will remain relatively light—generally a fraction of an inch per day—but still enough to create slick road conditions and disrupt outdoor plans.

At higher elevations, especially across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, precipitation will fall as snow. Periods of moderate to heavy snowfall are likely, particularly in key mountain regions such as Mammoth Mountain and the Lake Tahoe area.

As the storm moves inland, snowfall chances will increase steadily through Saturday, becoming more widespread by the evening and overnight hours. Snow intensity is expected to gradually ramp up, with the heaviest snowfall occurring late Saturday into Sunday the 12th. Snow accumulations are projected to get up to a foot in some areas, possibly even up to a couple feet. Conditions will begin to improve late Sunday, with clearing skies and calmer weather expected by Monday the 13th.

Before loading up your ski gear and heading to the mountains, there’s one major factor to consider: wind.

Alongside the incoming snowfall, breezy to locally blustery conditions are expected across much of the Sierra Nevada through Saturday and Sunday. Wind gusts could reach 35–45+ mph at times, creating challenging conditions on exposed terrain and potentially impacting lift operations.

Temperatures are another key concern, with readings dropping well below freezing into the low 20s. When combined with strong winds, wind chill values will make it feel significantly colder, especially if you're up on a lift.

Overall, the best window for skiing during this event looks to be Monday and Tuesday (April 13–14). By then, fresh snow will be on the ground, skies will be clearing, and winds are expected to ease. As an added bonus, fewer crowds are likely given its the workweek and late-season conditions.