Strong Pacific storm moving toward western U.S.

By News9 Meteorologist Carrie Rose.

The first big Pacific storm system of the Fall/Winter season is moving toward the western U.S. Saturday, and is expected to pack a snowy punch for the higher elevations of California and the Rockies Region.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the high country of California and Utah, including Yosemite National Park.  Up to a foot of snow is expected Friday and Saturday at the high elevations, with the accumulating snow level falling to as low as 7000 feet by Saturday.  Up to six inches of snow is likely at 8000 feet.

Yosemite National Park has a series of webcams available, which may capture good images of the snowfall this weekend.  To see the webcams, click here.

Farther east into the Rockies, some snow is possible in the highest elevations of Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.  However, this system is expected to primarily end the unusually warm weather of late for the Southwest U.S. and bring rainfall. 

This storm system is expected to track through the mid-section of the country early next week, bringing heavy rainfall and the possibility of severe weather to the Plains and Midwest. 

Stay with News9 and News9.com, we'll keep you advised.