A powerful winter system is setting up to impact Mendocino and Lake counties over the next couple of days. The National Weather Service says steady rain this morning will give way to colder air, with snow levels dropping late tonight and accumulations likely above 2,500 feet through midweek. Higher elevations could pick up a few inches of heavy, wet snow, and wind gusts may reach 35 miles per hour. That combination could mean slick mountain roads, possible chain requirements, and scattered outages before conditions improve later this week.