SHARE

Significant Ice Accumulation From Major Storm Could Lead To Power Outages This Weekend

An overnight round of light snow resulted in a coating to up to an inch of accumulation on Friday morning.

A look at most likely precipitation types for the weekend storm.

A look at most likely precipitation types for the weekend storm.

Photo Credit: National Weather Service
A look at projected totals of ice accumulations for the weekend storm.

A look at projected totals of ice accumulations for the weekend storm.

Photo Credit: National Weather Service
A look at projected snowfall totals for the weekend storm.

A look at projected snowfall totals for the weekend storm.

Photo Credit: National Weather Service
A look at areas (in light blue) where a Winter Storm Watch is in effect this weekend.

A look at areas (in light blue) where a Winter Storm Watch is in effect this weekend.

Photo Credit: National Weather Service

But that was just a very small taste of what's in store as a major storm the National Weather Service describes as "multi-hazard" comes this weekend. 

The storm's biggest threat will be ice, especially north of I-287 and the Merritt Parkway and just south of I-84, where a quarter-inch of ice accumulation is expected. (See first and second images above.) Coupled with wind gusts of up to 30 mph on Sunday, downed tree limbs and power lines could lead to widespread outages.

The storm will bring generally 4 to 8 inches of snowfall for most of the region, with up to 12 inches farthest north. (See third image above.)

A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect for the entire region from 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 until 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20.

The rest of the day Friday will be cloudy with a high temperature climbing to around 40 degrees.

The major storm is expected to arrive after 5 p.m. on Saturday on a cloudy day with the high reaching the mid-30s and wind-chill values between 20 and 25. 

Snow will mix with rain and sleet at times, and the storm could last 24 hours through Sunday night, Jan. 20, with the system wrapping up with evening snow showers. 

That storm will be followed by a freeze-up as a blast of Arctic Air will bring the coldest air of the season.

The overnight slow Sunday night into Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 21, will be between zero and 5 degrees.

Monday will be mostly sunny and frigid, with a high of only about 10 degrees.

Tuesday, Jan. 22 will be mostly sunny with a high in the upper-20s.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

to follow Daily Voice North Orange and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE