Several feet of snow is anticipated to blanket California’s mountains this week, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of “the strongest storm of the season” so far in the Sierra Nevada. A powerful low-pressure system will move toward Cape Mendocino on Thursday, farther south than many previous storms this winter. The proximity of the storm means its cold front will remain intact as it moves from Lake Tahoe toward Mammoth Mountain and Yosemite National Park on Thursday afternoon. Heavy snow is expected along this cold front, with hourly accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and intense winds creating periods of “zero visibility,” according to the weather service. 

Other atmospheric river news:

• Los Angeles Times: Strongest storm in a year bearing down on Southern California: What you need to know
• SFGate: Flash floods, 30-foot waves: Bay Area braces for intense atmospheric river
• The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.): Parts of SLO County could flood during new atmospheric river storm. Here’s when and where
• Stocktonia (Stockton, Calif.): New storm bringing heavy rain to Stockton this week
• Comstock’s magazine (Sacramento, Calif.): Stockton is behind in flood control
• Record Searchlight (Redding, Calif.): After ‘awe inspiring’ Sacramento River flows, Shasta Dam releases expected to slow
• The Trinity Journal (Weaverville, Calif.): Rising waters: Bureau of Reclamation announces higher releases from Lewiston Dam