CHICO — A forecast of heavy snow — with a potential to cause tree, roof and power line damage — is expected to begin Thursday through the weekend in the north state’s mountains and foothills, according to National Weather Service Sacramento.
The service is citing extreme snow impacts Friday and major snow impacts Thursday and Saturday, with snow rates of up to 2 inches per hour in the mountains. A winter storm watch is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 through 10 a.m. Sunday, March 3.
Predicted snow elevations start at 4,500 to 5,500 feet Thursday, lowering to 2,000 to 4,000 feet Friday, then to at least 1,500 to 3,000 feet Saturday and Sunday, according to the service.
Meteorologist Robert Baruffaldi said the Paradise foothills hold a likely chance for significant snow Friday night into Saturday morning with a total precipitation of 3.5 inches Thursday through Saturday.
“It’s still a bit away, but there’s certainly potential for several inches of snow” in Paradise, with even more possible than forecast, Baruffaldi said. “It all depends on the snow levels and how fast they come down.”
Valley cities may see more than one inch of rain including Chico at 1.5 to 2 inches and Red Bluff at 1 to 1.5 inches.
Baruffaldi said the year has brought a good amount of storms, but this event may be one of the strongest in the mountains for the water year.
Flooding concerns are not likely to rise because of low snow elevations — minor urban flooding at worst, he said. Elevations above 5,000 feet are forecast with a 30-75% chance to see at least 7 feet of snow.
Between 1,500 and 3,000 feet elevation, a 20-80% chance of at least 4 inches of snow is forecast.
A potential for windy conditions may also start Thursday, he said.
Winds forecast Thursday in the valley measure at 35 to 40 mph in Chico and Red Bluff dropping Friday to 30 to 35 in Chico and 25 to 30 in Red Bluff.
Freezing low temperatures in the north valley will not be likely until after the storm passes, Baruffaldi said.