NWS: Mendocino County may see snow

A cold snap this week could bring both rain and snow showers to Mendocino County as it delivers a “plethora of impacts,” the National Weather Service is reporting.

According to a forecast created Tuesday morning by the Eureka office of the NWS, there is a chance of snow showers falling on most days this week as a “cold air low pressure system is making its way south to our region, (bringing) cold surface temperatures and low-elevation snow, with the coldest temperatures forecast for the end of the week.”

“Snow levels are anticipated to fall to around 1000 feet by Wednesday morning, and then falling even further to below 500 feet by early Thursday morning,” the forecast explains. “Highway passes will be impacted by heavy snow at elevations above 1000 feet, and more than likely small hail along the coast. Confidence is growing that snow showers could occur at the coast, mainly north of Cape Mendocino, by Thursday morning.”

As of Tuesday morning, the NWS was reporting there was a “40 to 60 percent chance (of snow showers) along the Mendocino Coast north of Point Arena. However, a low elevation snow event along the coast of Northern California can be difficult to determine.”

As for the weekend, the NWS is reporting that “very cold low temperatures are expected Friday and Saturday morning. By Friday morning, minimum temperatures have the potential to reach their lowest of this winter storm. Temperatures Friday morning are expected to be below freezing to even the mid to upper 20s at the coast, while interior temperatures could be in the low 20s to high 10s.”

The NWS adds that “showery precipitation is forecast to continue into Friday, with the potential for additional snow accumulation as well as small hail. A high pressure system is then forecast to approach the region and aid in shower dissipation. Clearing skies and the lingering cold air mass will favor very cold morning temperatures across interior valleys and the coast into the weekend. Another low pressure system may impact the area by late next weekend.”