Extreme Weather: Damaging Winds In Western States, Ice Storm Expected In Oregon

Stormy weather with damaging winds has been forecasted in the western U.S. for the next several days, which has resulted in high wind warnings and winter alerts in affected states, including Oregon, California and Nevada.

"A period of increasingly stormy weather is forecast for the western U.S.," with "very strong winds" expected through Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its Short Range Public Discussion report published Sunday.

By Tuesday, a few inches of rainfall is possible on the West Coast and into central California. Officials warned of a potential threat of flash flooding and urged residents to monitor weather alerts.

The NWS in Portland, Oregon said many parts of the state will see rainfall through Monday, with Mount St. Helens possibly seeing up to three inches with a mix of snow.

The office further noted that residents should expect ice accumulations of a "half inch to an inch." Power outages are also possible.

Significant icing is expected on Oregon roads as freezing rain falls through Monday, resulting in "hazardous" commute conditions. Strong winds could damage trees in affected areas, the office added.

In California, officials at the NWS in Sacramento said strong south to southwest winds with snowfall would result in difficult mountain travel conditions from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning.

Up to 24 inches of snow accumulation is possible in areas above 6,000 feet, the office noted. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are also expected along with widespread blowing snow that could result in "significant" reductions to visibility.

Over in Nevada, the NWS in Reno warned of damaging wind gusts that could reach up to 80 mph in affected areas where High Wind Warnings have been issued.

In the Sierra Ridges, specifically, wind gusts of more than 120 mph are possible, officials warned.

Alerts in Oregon

Ice Storm Warning effective through 10 p.m. Monday:

• Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon

Ice Storm Warning effective through 4 a.m. Tuesday:

• Central Columbia River Gorge and Upper Hood River Valley (ice accumulations of one-half to one inch possible)

High Wind Warning effective from 7 p.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Tuesday:

• Curry County Coast and South Central Oregon Coast (wind gusts of up to 70 mph possible)

High Wind Warning effective from 7 p.m. Monday through 10 p.m. Tuesday:

• Siskiyou Mountains, Southern Oregon Cascades, South Central Oregon Cascades (wind gusts of up to 80 mph possible)

High Wind Warning effective from 10 p.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Wednesday:

• Central and Eastern Lake County
• Northern and Eastern Klamath County
• Western Lake County

Alerts in California

High Wind Warning effective through 4 a.m. Tuesday:

• Coastal del Norte, Del Norte Interior, Northern and Southern Humboldt Interior, Southwestern Humboldt (wind gusts of up to 75 mph possible)

High Wind Warning effective through 4 p.m. Tuesday:

• Central Siskiyou County

High Wind Warnings effective through 10 a.m. Tuesday:

• West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada, Western Plumas County, Lassen Park (wind gusts of up to 85 mph possible)
• Lassen-Eastern Sierra and Plumas-Eastern Sierra (wind gusts of up to 70 mph possible)
• Greater Lake Tahoe Area (wind gusts as high as 130 mph possible and waves of up to 6 feet on Lake Tahoe possible)
• Mono County (wind gusts near 100 mph possible)
• Surprise Valley California (wind gusts of up to 70 mph possible)

Flood Watches effective through 7 a.m. Tuesday:

• North Bay Interior Mountains, North Bay Interior Valleys, Sonoma Coastal Range
• Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest

Flood Watches effective through 9 a.m. Tuesday:

• Northern Monterey Bay, San Francisco, San Francisco Peninsula Coast
• Coastal North Bay, including Point Reyes National Seashore
• Southern Monterey Bay, Big Sur Coast

Alerts in Nevada

High Wind Warnings effective from 10 p.m. Monday through 10 p.m. Tuesday:

• Mineral and Southern Lyon (wind gusts of up to 70 mph possible)
• Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area (wind gusts of up to 80 mph)
• Northern Washoe County

Winter Storm Watch effective from Tuesday morning through 10 a.m. Wednesday:

• Greater Lake Tahoe Area in Nevada (up to 24 inches of snow accumulations possible above 7,000 feet, wind gusts of up to 100 mph in the Sierra ridgetops possible)