Saturday, October 31, 2026

The first widespread mountain snowstorm of the season is crossing the West this weekend, and the National Weather Service has winter storm warnings and advisories from the Sierra Nevada to the Rockies.

In California, a winter weather advisory runs until 7 a.m. Sunday for Yosemite outside the valley, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, with 4 to 8 inches between 7,500 and 9,500 feet and up to 18 inches higher up. The northern Sierra, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50, could see up to 10 inches above 7,000 feet, with chain controls possible, and the Lake Tahoe area 2 to 5 inches above 7,000 feet. Nevada's Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range are under a winter storm warning through Sunday evening, with 12 to 16 inches above 7,500 feet and snow-covered roads through Lamoille Canyon.

Farther east, Utah's Wasatch south of Interstate 80 and the western Uintas expect 8 to 12 inches from Saturday night to Monday morning, with 18 to 24 inches possible above 10,000 feet in Little and Big Cottonwood canyons. Colorado's San Juan Mountains are under winter storm warnings from Sunday to Monday, with 12 to 18 inches above 10,000 feet and gusts to 45 mph, and lighter snow is forecast for the central Colorado mountains, Idaho's Sun Valley area and Wyoming's Wind River Range.

If you are heading up: high mountain roads such as Yosemite's Tioga Road can close temporarily or for the season after storms like this, so check park and state road status before you drive, carry chains, and tell someone your plans. Backpackers in the high country should expect winter conditions and check the latest forecast.