High-Surface Snow and Ice at Mammoth Mountain Resort, Calif., and the Nevada Department of Parks, Wildlife and Forest Fires
A winter storm warning was in effect for the highest elevations in the Sierra where up to a foot of snow was expected near the shores.
The snow accumulated in the high Sierra Nevada made it difficult to open chairlifts, and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area said there would be delays. The resort reported a lot of lift closings on Saturday because of high winds, low visibility and ice.
A 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of eastbound U.S. Interstate 80 was closed “due to zero visibility” from Colfax, California to the Nevada state line, transportation officials said. Chains are required on the rest of I-80 in the mountains.
The US Forest Service issued a warning for the area west of Lake Tahoe, saying that several feet of new snow and strong winds will result in dangerous, and sometimes fatal, slide conditions in the mountains.
The National Weather Service said that wind gusts of up to 50 mph are possible by Sunday over the Sierra ridgetops.
It is expected that there will be 2 to 4 inches of rains across the region over the course of the weekend, with isolated areas getting up to 6 inches. The area of Northern California could get up to 7 inches of rain.
The weather service issued a flash flood warning on Saturday when inches of rain fell on burn scars left by wildfires south of Monterey and farther south of Big Sur.
Sacramento, Calif., and Sacramento, Fla., Power Lines Restored by Cars and Trees Following a Day of Snow in Sacramento
More than 30,000 customers were without power in the Sacramento area at one point Saturday morning, but it was restored to all but a few hundred late in the day. The five cars that were trapped between the downed power lines escaped unscathed, the Bee reported.
Some cars and homes were damaged when trees fell in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Monte Rio, a small town along the Russian River in Sonoma County, firefighters responded to several reports of downed trees crashing into homes in 50 mph wind gusts.
Monte Rio Fire Department Chief Steve Baxman told KRON-TV that four different down trees had damaged houses in the area and that no injuries were reported.
This is the first big storm, we’ve had several years of dry weather and the trees were dry. Now they’re filling up with water and starting to topple over,” Baxman told the television station.
California’s snowpack could benefit from the storms. California’s key source of water was more than 50% of normal levels last week, according to the department of water resources.
A storm threat will begin Monday in the southern and central US. A slight threat for severe weather has been issued for parts of western and central Kansas and Oklahoma into northwestern Texas.
The storm is expected to bring relief to areas that are in need, including the Mississippi River Valley where excessive rainfall is possible on Wednesday.
To the east, residents in Fargo, North Dakota, are expected to see snowfall over 6 inches and will be under a winter storm watch from late Monday night until late Wednesday night. Duluth, Minnesota, could also see 6 inches of snow and will be under a winter storm watch starting Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service office in Reno expects the snow total to be 22% of normal, but it is more than that.
It looks like Christmas in this case. “It didn’t come with a lot of wind, and it stuck to everything. It is similar to a picture postcard.
While he noted the snow totals so far are impressive, Deutschendorf said he is “cautiously optimistic” about this precipitation putting a big dent in the state’s drought.
“We’re Buried”: A Snowstorm System Taking Down a Mountain of California Over the Last Few Days in Olympic Valley, California
“We’re Buried,” the Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort wrote on its website Sunday, sharing photos of thick snow covering the ski resort in Olympic Valley, California.
“(We’ve) never seen this much snow up here,” Kihara told CNN on Friday. “We woke up to it. It picked up over the weekend, but picked up again overnight. A lot of trees are down and the roads are closed. Power is out and has been mostly gone since Tuesday.”
In contrast to the West Coast and Northeast, Americans in the US are dealing with dangerous roads and heavy snow, strong winds, power failures and other problems.
More than 100,000 homes and businesses in several counties were without power for most of Saturday as a result of this week’s severe weather across the state.
The region is being inundated by an atmospheric river – a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles – as much of the eastern US recovers from a deadly winter storm that left wide swaths of the country under dangerously cold temperatures.
While some Northeast residents get their first taste of the snow this season, a new storm system is hitting the west coast with more snow, high winds, and cold temperatures right after another storm dumped thick snow there last week.
The first wave is impacting parts of Southern California and the Four Corners region that includes parts of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Low elevation rainfall and high elevation snowfall will move out of California by late Wednesday morning and remain in the Four Corners area until Thursday.
A flood watch was in effect across much of Northern California through New Year’s Eve. Officials warned that rivers and streams could overflow and urged residents to get sandbags ready.
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to many lands that were closed due to land slides as well as the unincorporated community of Piercy, which is in the Mendocino National Forest.
Humboldt County, where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Dec. 20, also saw roadways begin to flood, according to the National Weather Service’s Eureka office. A bridge that was temporarily closed last week due to earthquake damage may be closed again if the Eel River, which it crosses, gets too high, officials said.
The California Highway Patrol reported some local roads in eastern Sacramento were under water and impassable at times on Friday. The weather service says that over the past 48 hours there has been almost 5 inches of rain in the Sierra foothills at Blue Canyon.
In order to warn people of flooding, the fire department planned to broadcast announcements from a helicopter and a boat on the American River.
The weather service in Reno said gusts could cause tree damage and that high waves could cause small vessels to capsize.
On the Sierra’s eastern front, flood watches and warnings were issued into the weekend north and south of Reno, Nevada, where minor to moderate flooding was forecast along some rivers and streams.
The Susan River could rise to a foot above the flood stage on Saturday morning in Susanville, California, causing moderate flooding that could affect some.
The rain was welcomed in drought-parched California. The past three years have been the state’s driest on record — but much more precipitation is needed to make a significant difference.
“Too many road closures to count at this point,” the weather agency in Sacramento said in an afternoon tweet. Sacramento County urged residents in the unincorporated community of Wilton to evacuate, warning that flooded roadways could “cut off access to leave the area.”
The California Highway Patrol said a section of U.S. 101 — one of the state’s main traffic arteries — was closed indefinitely south of San Francisco because of flooding. Videos on Twitter showed mud-colored water streaming along San Francisco streets, and a staircase in Oakland turned into a veritable waterfall by heavy rains.
The Stockton Police Department posted photos of a flooded railroad underpass and a car that appeared stalled in more than a foot (30 centimeters) of water.
The Sacramento-Anaheim First High-Velocity Clouds and Scattered Snow in the Golden State on New Year’s Eve
It was the first of several storms expected to roll across California over the next week. The current system is expected to be warmer and wetter, while next week’s storms will be colder, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
On New Year’s Eve, a group of drivers were trapped along the side of the freeway after they spun out in the snow. The key route to the mountains from the San Francisco Bay Area reopened to passenger vehicles on Sunday.
Rainfall in downtown San Francisco hit 5.46 inches (13.87 cm) on New Year’s Eve, making it the second-wettest day on record, behind a November 1994 deluge, the National Weather Service said. There were videos of muddy water in San Francisco and a staircase that turned into a waterfall in Oakland.
In Southern California, several people were rescued after floodwaters inundated cars in San Bernardino and Orange counties. No major injuries were reported.
The region has not had a lot of rain recently and spectators began to stake out their spots for the Rose Parade.
State climatologist Michael Anderson told a news briefing late Saturday that officials were closely monitoring Monday’s incoming storm and another behind it and were keeping an eye on three other systems farther out in the Pacific.
“This isn’t a question of if it will rain or snow, but how much it will bring,” Tardy said, noting the region is expected to see a mountain of snow starting on Thursday and continuing through Friday night.
LA county is responsible for maintaining the bottom of the road leading up to Mount Baldy, but isn’t used to removing snow, he said. There are concerns about the possibility of rain that could cause the snow to loose and cause flooding.
South Lake Tahoe’s snow operations team is ready to plow roadways, bike trails and sidewalks, said Assistant City Manager Lindsey Baker. Ensuring emergency vehicles are able to reach where they need to go is their first priority.
The Mammoth Mountain Snowfall Storm isn’t that unusual – but it WILL BE VERY DEEPLY INSTANT
The emerging storm, she said, is “not anything unusual” – and the city anticipates it won’t be the same kind of “non-stop, all hands-on deck situation” they experienced earlier this year.
Mammoth Mountain, home to a thriving winter tourism scene, is already six inches over its annual average of 400 inches of snow, said spokesperson Lauren Burke.
The first two weeks of January alone brought the region 17 feet of snow in just 16 days, which according to Burke, caused road and ski lift closures, along with heaps of snow to be shoveled.
But this February’s storm should be more manageable for the region – even if its summit gets between 15 and 21 inches of snow Friday, as the National Weather Service predicts. Burke added this storm should bring the “perfect amount of snow to get out there and ski and ride.”
Snow is falling at heavy rates of 1-2 inches per hour near the Great Lakes, and combining with 40-50 mph winds. That will drive significant impacts that will include major disruptions to travel, infrastructure, livestock and recreation,” the NWS wrote.
In the Midwest, including in Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit, airports have faced a lot of cancellation. More than 1,600 flights were canceled on Wednesday and another 5,200 were delayed. Thursday brought more of the same — more than 1,700 flights were canceled and almost 10,000 delayed as of Thursday morning, according to FlightAware.
Cold Weather in Southern and Mid-Atlantic States Sparked by Unusual Temperatures and Water Outflows on Thursday and Sunday
Just as noteworthy were the unusual warm temperatures seen in Southern and Mid-Atlantic states, the National Weather Service said. On Thursday, both Nashville, Tenn., and Richmond, Va., saw temperatures hit 85 and 83 degrees respectively.
Atlanta was 81 degrees on Wednesday, an all-time record in February. New Orleans was 83 degrees on Wednesday, while Washington, D.C. and Nashville both had 80 degrees.
The precipitation came as a rare blizzard warning was in effect for parts of southern California and the Los Angeles region, spawning unfamiliar wintry conditions at higher elevations.
The National Weather Service warned on Friday that there was a chance of sudden waterspouts, powerful enough to easily overturn boats, in the vicinity of the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. There is a chance of small tornadoes on land in the two counties.
San Jose, Napa and other parts of the region have been issued a freeze warning for Friday evening through Saturday morning. Unsheltered populations, crops, and plumbing will be at risk of injury during the cold weather.
Michigan in particular was hit with freezing rain and ice that disrupted travel and was risky for livestock and infrastructure. Port Austin and Midland saw the most snow, with 8 inches and 8.9 inches respectively. Meanwhile southern portions of the state saw high accumulations of ice, according to the National Weather Service.
There is still a chance of more light snow in some parts of southeast Michigan. Meanwhile, across the state, temperatures will be below freezing on Friday. Forecasters expect the weather to warm up by Sunday.
Blizzard warnings are set to continue through Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service did not issue a warning for a long time.
An onset of severe weather across the West Coast has spawned unfamiliar wintry conditions at higher elevations, particularly over mountainous areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where up to a foot of snow may pair with 80 mph winds, the National Weather Service said.
“Travel could be impossible with near zero visibility at times through early Wednesday morning. Strong winds could cause tree damage and power outages. The weather service office in Reno said that if you travel, you will be trapped in vehicles for hours.
In addition to the snow, some Los Angeles-area roads turned into rivers on Friday after bouts of heavy rain, prompting the weather service to issue a flash flood warning.
The region faces back-to-back storms this week as Saturday’s rain will make already soaked grounds more likely to be flooded. In late December into January, much the state was thrashed with rounds of deadly flooding.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the Midwest have been affected by the same weather system that struck California, as well as several states across the country.
Nearly 500,000 homes and businesses in Michigan were still in the dark Saturday following a powerful winter storm created dangerous icing conditions, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us. Wayne County had the most outages at more than 150,000.
DTE, one of Michigan’s largest electric providers, is restoring power to stricken areas but cautioned it will not be able to return service to most customers before Sunday.
Superstorm Snowfall in Minnesota, New England, and the Central Parks of Northern California are Expected to See Several inches of Snowfall
The highway patrol said that crews in Wyoming were in search-and-rescue mode after more than 40 inches of snow fell in the southern areas of the state.
In Minnesota, Minneapolis officials declared a one-day snow emergency Friday due to heavy snow, and city crews have been plowing and treating streets. The city received more than 13 inches of rain over the course of three days.
In New England, icy conditions likely contributed to a massive 15-vehicle pileup on the Massachusetts Turnpike Thursday night, according to a tweet by the Massachusetts State Police.
The storm made for dangerous travel conditions in some areas. In Los Padres National Forest, State Route 33 was closed due to rock slides and erosion from this and previous storms, according to video from the California Department of Transportation.
The storm pummeling the Northeast will spread further into northern New England Tuesday as cold air locks over the region and 4-8 inches of snow fall, according to the National Weather Service.
Winter weather advisories are in place for Boston and New York City, which could see the biggest snow event of the season. Central Park, which has only received 0.4 inches of snowfall this year, could see 3-5 inches of snowfall through Tuesday afternoon.
The governor of New York is telling residents to prepare for hazardous travel conditions, as the state prepares for freezing rain, snow, and wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour.
In Rhode Island, where Gov. Daniel McKee also warned of a difficult morning commute, all Providence schools were closed Tuesday. The state of Connecticut has prepared for a significant snowstorm, which could bring at least five inches of snow to the area and an additional 10 inches in isolated areas.
As far east as the Colorado Rockies and southward as northern Arizona, there will be hazardous travel conditions Tuesday and Wednesday due to the heavy snow.
State and Federal Emergency Assistance for West Coast Highway Traffic in San Bernardino County, Calif., After a Large Snowstorm on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015
The governor of California put out a state of emergency in 13 counties after a winter storm stranded people inside their homes.
As crews work to create single-lane pathways on roads for first responders, San Bernardino County declared a local emergency Monday to seek state and federal assistance with clearing the snow, officials said.
More than 600 students who were scheduled to return home on Friday got stuck at their camps because of the storm. California Highway Patrol escorted the children’s buses down the mountain on Monday so they could reunite with their families, according to an Irvine Unified School District spokeswoman.
The National Weather Service warned that if you plan on traveling by road above 1,000 feet in West Coast states be prepared for rapidly changing conditions and have winter driving supplies.
In Oregon, a section of the 5 Freeway was closed, with the weather service there warning that patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
“Bring chains and know how to use them. If you get stuck, bring an emergency kit with you that includes warm clothes, snacks and water. Make sure your vehicle has good tires and working blades, the Oregon Department of Transportation said.
Derechos: Wind storms on the Southern Plains and high elevation snow in Los Angeles, California, after a snowstorm on Sunday
In Oklahoma, the storm ripped roofs off homes, flipped cars, downed trees, littered neighborhoods with debris. Twelve people have been reported injured in Oklahoma from the storms.
In total, more than 140 storm reports were made Sunday across the Southern Plains, mainly of wind across Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. This also includes 14 hail reports in those states, with several hailstones reportedly 1.75 inches in diameter.
The weather experts will try to figure out whether the system can be categorized as a derecho, a broad, long-lived windstorm which typically causes damage in one direction across a relatively straight path.
A ski resort located in the San Gabriel mountains northeast of Los Angeles had 93 inches of snow. Other areas of high elevation got over five feet of snow and are still digging.
Authorities there had conducted almost 100 rescues by Wednesday evening, San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey said in a news conference, though authorities have not learned of any serious injuries or deaths.
We are responding to medical calls. We’re responding to fires in these trapped vehicles. Munsey said that the houses of people who have trees through their houses or have some sort of roof collapse will be evacuated to the shelters.
Newsom declared a state of emergency for the San Bernardino County area and the Los Angeles county location of a rare blizzard
Newsom declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County and 12 others – among them Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties – late Wednesday, with his office saying in a statement that a significant number of state personnel had responded to support San Bernardino County.
Chief Dan Munsey said the fire department was shoveling out the driveway to make sure people had access to their cars. As the roads are plowed, you still have a berm of snow that needs to be crossed.
Huntington Lake in the Sierra Nevada saw 144 inches of snow, per a report from the Fresno County Office of Emergency Services, which reported 10 to 12 feet of snow near China Peak, leading to the closure of Highway 168.
Thousands of people live at high altitudes in forest communities or visit for year-round recreation in the San Bernardino Mountains, which was the location of a rare blizzard late in February.
The highways leading up into the mountains were closed over the weekend and have been open intermittently since.
The estimate by San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus was an improvement in the outlook for stranded residents, which previously ranged up to two weeks.
He told the press conference that they are hoping to cut the time from two to one week because of the state’s efforts.
The sheriff and other officials said progress has been made, but they described severe conditions that, for example, have forced firefighters to reach emergency scenes such as fires in snowcats.
“It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of this event,” said state Assemblyman Tom Lackey. “You know, we’re thinking, ‘We’re in Southern California,’ but then we have had an extensive flood that has created a lot of anxiety, frustration and difficulty for the victims and those trapped in their own home.”
Some California mountain residents can’t be snowed in for another week without power: a Facebook post by Shelah Riggs
In Mono City, a small community on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada near Yosemite National Park, some residents have been snowed in without power for a week, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office posted Friday on Facebook. In the northern part of the state, mountain communities grappling with the conditions have smaller populations and are more accustomed to significant snowfall.
Shelah Riggs said the street she lives on in Crestline hasn’t seen a snowplow in eight days, leaving people in about 80 homes along the roadway with nowhere to go. Typically, a plow comes every day or two when it snows, she said.
Riggs, who lives with her 14-year-old daughter, said everyone is working to keep snow and ice off their decks to prevent collapse and making sure the gas vents on their homes are kept clear.
Devine Horvath said it took her and her son 30 minutes to walk down the road to check on her neighbor.
Horvath said she was lucky to make it to the local grocery store before its roof collapsed several days earlier but hadn’t been able to leave her street since.
Dicus said that they were going to dig you out. “We are making tremendous progress. I saw it from the sky. The streets are being cleared.
Officials said crews were dealing with such tremendous depths of snow that removal required front-end loaders and dump trucks rather than regular plows.
The California Department of Transportation estimates that crews have removed 2.6 million truckloads of snow from state highways.
Officials described a host of difficulties in reopening smaller roads, including buried vehicles and downed power lines that make progress difficult. Residents were urged to somehow mark the locations of cars.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/04/1161119770/some-california-mountain-residents-could-be-snowed-in-for-another-week
The San Bernardino Mountains are home or vacation homes for an 80,000 people population in California, as seen by the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force
There was a California National Guard crew that normally works with the California Wildfire & Forest resilience task force that had been brought in. The crew will help shovel snow.
About 80,000 people live in the San Bernardino Mountains either part or full time. The county has not estimated how many people are currently in the mountains because many residences are vacation homes or rentals.