Winter Weather Alerts for 8 States as Mountain Snow Hits West Coast

Winter weather alerts are in place for parts of eight U.S. states as meteorologists predict an "energetic" jet stream will continue to bring snow and rain over the west while lake-effect snowfall continues downwind of the Great Lakes.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings and advisories, predominantly from Thursday to Friday morning, for Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, as well as New York, warning of hazardous travel conditions and reduced visibility from blowing snow, .

In its latest forecast, the NWS said higher elevations on the West Coast and southwest were likely to see moderate to heavy snowfall, including the Los Angeles area, with rain and the potential for thunderstorms in lowland regions.

"High surf will once again be a concern along coastal California," it added.

In California's Sierra Nevada mountains, areas above 6,000 feet are being warned of up to 18 inches of snow accumulation, with wind gusts as high as 40 miles an hour. Travel is expected to be "very difficult to nearly impossible" through to Thursday morning.

In the northern part of the range, as much as 2 feet of snow could accumulate, while commuters in Trinity County were cautioned to carry chains in their vehicles due to the snow. Up to a foot of snow is possible in Siskiyou County.

As much as 10 inches of snow are anticipated to fall on portions of eastern and central Nevada, while winds could reach 55 miles an hour in mountainous regions of Inyo County. "Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility," the NWS said.

Wave heights could reach 3 feet on Lake Tahoe as wind gusts could reach up to 80 miles an hour in the region.

Up to 8 inches of snow and slippery roads are possible in parts of Arizona, while 10 inches is expected in the southern mountains of Utah. A similar amount is set to fall over the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Western states have already faced several bouts of snowfall so far this winter, having been subjected to a "prolific series" of atmospheric river storms from the Pacific. Last winter, the West Coast experienced the effects of a similar weather front, with California seeing several rounds of flooding.

Heavy snow and high winds are expected over parts of Alaska, with a warning issued for the Koyukuk Valley in the central part of the state. Meteorologists previously warned of potential blizzards in the state this week.

An advisory is also in place for the region of New York bordering Lake Ontario due to "persistent" lake-effect snow effect bringing up to 6 inches and "rapidly changing road conditions."

The NWS predicted that up to 4 inches of snow could accumulate across areas to the east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as south and east of Lakes Superior and Michigan, with the possibility of locally higher amounts, through to Thursday.

Lake-effect snow is a phenomenon in which cold air from Canada picks up moisture from large bodies of water to produce precipitation. The region has already seen some lake-effect snow, and recently faced another bout of snow brought on by an Alberta Clipper system moving cold air down from Canada.