Hard-hit California braces for another round of snow, rain: What to know

Flooding is possible and snow could cause roofs to collapse.

ByEmily Shapiro and Max Golembo
March 7, 2023, 3:33 PM

More rain and snow are headed to hard-hit California, where some residents are still digging out from the massive snowfall that's been pounding the region.

The next major storm is expected Thursday and Friday. An atmospheric river will slam the San Francisco area with heavy rain and dump another 5 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

PHOTO: In an aerial view, a backhoe is seen covered in snow, March 3, 2023, in Twin Bridges, Calif.
In an aerial view, a backhoe is seen covered in snow, March 3, 2023, in Twin Bridges, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
PHOTO: A view of Union Pacific Train moves as the railroad covered with snow, March 2, 2023, in Truckee, Calif.
A view of Union Pacific Train moves as the railroad covered with snow, March 2, 2023, in Truckee, Calif.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The heaviest rain will fall Thursday night into Friday. Northern California counties including Napa and Sonoma are at risk for flooding and rising rivers due to the combination of rain and melting snow.

In the areas with deep piles of snow, the snow could absorb the rain and prevent extreme flooding. But that will make the snow even heavier and could cause roofs to collapse.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video posted on March 3, 2023, to the CHP Truckee Twitter account, an officer holds up a "Free Snow" sign as a truck removes snow from the area in Truckee, Calif.
In this screen grab from a video posted on March 3, 2023, to the CHP Truckee Twitter account, an officer holds up a "Free Snow" sign as a truck removes snow from the area in Truckee, Calif. The post says that in the last two weeks, the area has received about 16 feet of snow.
@CHP_Truckee/Twitter

This comes after the Sierra Nevada mountain region was buried by 16 feet of snow in just the last two weeks.

The Sierra's snowfall total for the season now stands at 48.33 feet, marking the snowiest season since the winter of 2010-2011. But this year isn't the snowiest season on record; the winter of 1951-1952 holds the record at 67.65 feet of snow.

In Southern California's San Bernardino County, crews have removed more than 7.2 million cubic yards of snow from highways, which equals nearly 2,270 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to the governor’s office.

PHOTO: Resident Jessica Neakarse (R) helps Annie Ibrahim (L) re-stock Mountain High Market after a series of winter storms dropped more than 100 inches of snow in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, on March 6, 2023, in Twin Peaks, Calif.
Resident Jessica Neakarse (R) helps Annie Ibrahim (L) re-stock Mountain High Market after a series of winter storms dropped more than 100 inches of snow in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, on March 6, 2023, in Twin Peaks, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
PHOTO: A vehicle is mostly buried in snow after a series of winter storms dumped heavy snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, March 3, 2023 in Crestline, Calif.
A vehicle is mostly buried in snow after a series of winter storms dumped heavy snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, March 3, 2023 in Crestline, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
PHOTO: People carry donated food after a series of winter storms dumped heavy snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, March 3, 2023 in Crestline, Calif.
People carry donated food after a series of winter storms dumped heavy snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, March 3, 2023 in Crestline, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Meanwhile, a winter storm watch is in effect for parts of Minnesota and Iowa, where up to 8 inches of snow is expected on Thursday.

Heavy rain and flooding is also possible in parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the winter snow record in the region.

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