Winter Storm Warnings across Sierra Nevada, White Mountains, and northern California
Winter Storm Warnings are in effect across parts of California from late December 23 through December 27, 2025, as a strong atmospheric river moves inland, bringing heavy mountain snowfall and high winds.
Image credit: Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company
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.
Read more:
References:
1 Winter Storm Warning – NWS – December 23, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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