Storm pounds northern California

(BBC) More than 220,000 people are without power after heavy rains and high winds slammed northern California.

The storm brought rainfall of more than an inch an hour in San Francisco and winds gusts of 140mph (225km/h) in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Flooding has already closed two major motorways in the area, delayed public transport, cancelled 240 flights and shut ferry services.

The rain is much needed in the drought-hit state but mudslides are a concern.

Power cuts were widespread, from the suburban area south of San Francisco to Humboldt, near the Oregon border.

"It's a two-pronged punch - it's wind and rain," National Weather Service forecaster Diana Henderson said. "Once the ground gets saturated and the winds are howling, there's a bigger chance of trees going down on power lines."

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30442290


-- BBC 2014-12-12

Real time Donner Pass.

After 25 years of driving over Donner pass in a 18 wheeler this is nothing new to me. Half the fun of it is having to "hang iron" on three of your 5 axles.

That really doesn't look like an unusual amount of snow for Donner Pass.

Before the winter is over there will be snow banks on each side of the road taller than a person, cut by snowplows. I've seen the banks 12 feet/4 meters high.

Edited December 12, 201411 yr by NeverSure

The snow is great. I currently live in the valley and we weren't hit very hard. Just steady rain with no flooding.

San Francisco is Central California.

Yreka is Northern California.

Real time Donner Pass.

Thank you for the photo. It brings back old memories.

That really doesn't look like an unusual amount of snow for Donner Pass.

Before the winter is over there will be snow banks on each side of the road taller than a person, cut by snowplows. I've seen the banks 12 feet/4 meters high.

This reader appreciates the time the poster took to share a real-time photo of the conditions at the pass.

San Francisco is Central California.

Yreka is Northern California.

Thanks for the geography lesson. I've lived in California all my life and didn't know that.....

San Francisco is Central California.

Yreka is Northern California.

No. No, no. It is Northern California. Do I tell you that Seoul is Central Korea? No, I do not.

SURFS UP AT TAHOE !!

Edited December 12, 201411 yr by khwaibah

I've got friends in Russian River, big time mud slide area. Hope they battened down the hatches as usual.

That really doesn't look like an unusual amount of snow for Donner Pass.

Before the winter is over there will be snow banks on each side of the road taller than a person, cut by snowplows. I've seen the banks 12 feet/4 meters high.

Actually, I'd like to see 12 to 20 feet banks.

San Francisco is Central California.

Yreka is Northern California.

Never made sense to me either but it is generally defined as starting from Monterey county and Stanislaus county in the Valley southwards. Nobody in Watsonville thinks they live in Central California. I made some calls over there this morning, Pictures from this storm quite incredible.

Edited December 12, 201411 yr by arunsakda

San Francisco is Central California.

Yreka is Northern California.

Incorrect. They both are.

SF and northern CA, up into Oregon and Washington State, my favourite places on Earth . . . apart from Devon of course.

I've seen the snow in Donner pass completely cover the houses.

I've seen the snow in Donner pass completely cover the houses.

Donner-Pass-snow-depth-620x412.jpg

Not in quite a few years though. I hope we get a lot more snow this year to help out with the current drought.

Just don't get snowed in, get cabin fever and go on a feeding frenzy. 140 mph wind should make for some snow drifts of a lifetime.