..WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON ABOVE 3000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH ABOVE 3000 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE WEST SLOPES OF THE SIERRA CASCADE RANGE.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 12 TO 18 INCHES OF NEW SNOWFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 3000 FEET BUT LOCALLY LOWER SNOW LEVELS ARE LIKELY.

* TIMING: LIGHT SNOWFALL WILL BEGIN AS EARLY AS MID DAY SUNDAY WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL OCCURRING SUNDAY NIGHT. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY MONDAY.

* WINDS: WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 TO 40 MPH OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS COMBINED WITH MODERATE SNOWFALL WILL CAUSE WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS: WINTER LIKE TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY RESULT FROM THE COMBINATION OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AND GUSTY WINDS. THOSE TRAVELING THROUGH THE SIERRA CASCADE RANGE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND WIND THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.