Winter storms could bring 4-8 feet of snow to parts of West. See forecast.

After weeks of dry, warm weather, much of the West will see a wet, cool week with drenching rain and heavy mountain snow, forecasters warned.

"Snowfall in the Sierra, Cascades, and Rockies will be measured in feet and yards," said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in an e-mail to USA TODAY.

"Expect major travel impacts from heavy snow, and mountain travel is highly discouraged during this time!" the National Weather Service in Sacramento, California, said.

In addition to snow, a multitude of other hazards could arise this week, ranging from localized flooding and tornadoes to gusty winds, according to AccuWeather.

California will bear the brunt of the storminess: "It will be a wet week across California as a series of storm systems slam into the state," said AccuWeather meteorologist Kai Kerkow in an e-mail to USA TODAY. "Multiple inches of rain will fall across much of the state, with several feet of snow expected in the Sierra."