Latest storm piles more snow on California mountains

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

today

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A cold low pressure system spinning off the coast of California sent bands of rain and snow across the state Wednesday, making travel difficult and adding to an epic mountain snowpack.

Forecasters said the storm was not as strong as the systems that pounded the state all winter, but that chains were required for vehicles on highways through the Sierra Nevada. A section of U.S. 395 on the eastern side of the range was closed due to snowfall.

The Mammoth Mountain ski resort in the Eastern Sierra declared its snowiest season on record after 28 inches (70 centimeters) of snow since Tuesday afternoon pushed season snowfall totals to 695 inches (17.6 meters) at its main lodge and 870 inches (22.1 meters) at the summit of the 11,053-foot (3,369-meter) peak.

“It’s deep out there,” the resort wrote on its website.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/california-storms-record-snowpack-6a3ad89d3118b772d102415796cd80fe

[Lovie777]

1. It rained steady from 3am to 10am......

today in my area of Southern Cal. I left my house around 7am and the streets were flooded. Now, the sun is out, mild winds. but weather forecast is advising more rain late tonight.

We are over the drought.

[ItsjustMe]

2. Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest

[Mr.Bill]

3. I have heard some reporters on Bay Area news shows

say they are talking about skiing on July 4th. There will probably still be snow left.

[CaptainTruth]

4. I remember when that used to happen! Hasn't happened in a lot of years.

[Mr.Bill]

5. I think they said '69

was the last time.

[CaptainTruth]

8. Well, I lived in N CA 1988 to 2012 & there were at least 2 years (maybe 3?)...

...when some ski resorts were open on July 4. Not all, but some.

[Mr.Bill]

9. Now that I think about it,

the context may have been they were talking about a particular resort.

[Retrograde]

6. At least this week's rain hasn't come with a windstorm

we're running out of large trees to blow over around here - we lost 8 of them within a 3 block radius of my house. At least no one was injured - so far.

[IronLionZion]

7. Hope they can save some of that water for drought/wildfire season

[Johnny2X2X]

10. Ironically

These heavy rains will make the wildfire season worse because of the immense amount of grass growth that will occur and then be dry by the end of Summer.

But overall, this Winter defied what scientists thought was possible in CA. It was thought there was no way CA would exit drought from 1 Winter of weather, but that's what has happened and it's been an ideal mix of downpours, steady rain, and mountain snow. And this is just CA, we still don't know the effects on more inland mountain ranges who have seen excess snow too. This snow will be melting all Summer long to help replenish streams and ground water as well as major reservoirs.

[Zeitghost]

11. It's going to be an impressive melt

The rivers coming out of the Sierra's are going to be rushing (many are already). We've been discussing a trip up to Yosemite in late April to see the waterfalls.