If northern California is in your travel plans over the next couple of days or so, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — due to a severe weather system which will bring copious amounts of precipitation and strong winds.
Travel Alert October 2021: Severe Weather Affects Northern California
Although rain is expected to occur as far south as Tijuana in Mexico and as far east as Salt Lake City in Utah, this weather system is the latest in a “parade” of weather systems which have been bringing some much-needed precipitation to California and other parts of the west coast of the United States recently that have been experiencing either severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions.
Significant rainfall is forecast through Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from the Monterey Bay area of California all the way north to the central western coast of British Columbia, with some areas possibly receiving as much as 16 inches of rain. As an example, greater than four inches of rain could fall in both Sacramento and San Francisco.
Snow is expected in higher elevations. The Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Cascade mountain range are likely to experience the heaviest snow — as much as 100 inches of snow, which is greater than eight feet — as a result of this weather system.
Worse is that although the rains are expected to significantly impact — and, perhaps extinguish — the wildfires which have been raging in the western United States, areas which have already burned and have little to no vegetation or forestation are more prone to mudslides.
Additionally, many areas will be subject to significant flooding and strong winds — with gusts of as much as 100 miles per hour in the High Sierra — before this weather event concludes; and rough surf and the erosion of beaches will likely occur along coastal areas.
Electric power outages could also occur in areas of the western United States.
Cities which will be impacted by this weather system in some form or another include San Francisco, Reno, Boise, Salt Lake City, Fresno, Portland, San Jose, Seattle, Las Vegas, Vancouver, and Sacramento.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from northern California over the next couple of days or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.
Here are five airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose for Saturday, October 23, 2021 through Sunday, October 24, 2021; and Wednesday, October 27, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose for Sunday, October 24, 2021; and Wednesday, October 27, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued a travel alert for San Francisco for Sunday, October 24, 2021; and Wednesday, October 27, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued a travel alert for San Francisco for Sunday, October 24, 2021.
- WestJet Airlines has issued a travel alert for San Francisco for Sunday, October 24, 2021.
Final Boarding Call
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
All photographs ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
