The last time Los Angeles County mountains dealt with a blizzard warning was 1989.
February 25, 2023
Nationwide temperature divide putting more than 100 records in jeopardy through weekend
Rare blizzard warning issued for Los Angeles-area mountains
Parts of California remain under blizzard warnings, a rarity for the Golden State.
In the next 24 to 36 hours, the area faces historic amounts of snow, rain and winds.
“Right now, California’s getting basically drenched with a firehose of moisture,” said Kyle David, associate producer and weather forecaster at Fox Weather. “This is a very rare storm for California.”
The Santa Barbara County mountains, which are under their first-ever blizzard warning, and the Los Angeles County mountains, whose last blizzard warning came in 1989, can face a few feet of snow.
“Basically anywhere above 4,500 feet in the mountains, you’re looking at a couple feet of snow,” David explained.
“Anywhere higher, you could get some isolated amounts that are even higher than that. But the general consensus is a couple of feet of snow for the upper elevations of the California mountains and Sierra Nevada.”
The snow will add to the already larger-than-usual snowpack there. The majority of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which supplies about a third of California’s water, was amassed in December and January when atmospheric rivers hit the area.
Rare blizzard warning issued for Los Angeles-area mountains
Parts of California remain under blizzard warnings, a rarity for the Golden State.
In the next 24 to 36 hours, the area faces historic amounts of snow, rain and winds.
“Right now, California’s getting basically drenched with a firehose of moisture,” said Kyle David, associate producer and weather forecaster at Fox Weather. “This is a very rare storm for California.”
The Santa Barbara County mountains, which are under their first-ever blizzard warning, and the Los Angeles County mountains, whose last blizzard warning came in 1989, can face a few feet of snow.
Californians had to trudge through snow as some parts of the West Coast state were hit with snow.
REUTERS/Laure Andrillon
“Basically anywhere above 4,500 feet in the mountains, you’re looking at a couple feet of snow,” David explained.
“Anywhere higher, you could get some isolated amounts that are even higher than that. But the general consensus is a couple of feet of snow for the upper elevations of the California mountains and Sierra Nevada.”
The snow will add to the already larger-than-usual snowpack there. The majority of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which supplies about a third of California’s water, was amassed in December and January when atmospheric rivers hit the area.
The blizzard is a very rare occurrence for California.
AP Photo/John Locher
The area is facing an historic amount of snow, rain and wind
ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images
Other parts of the state, where over 121,000 residents are currently without power, are being saturated by heavy amounts of rainfall.
Downtown Los Angeles is expected to get up to 5 inches of rain. The National Weather Service even issued a flash flood warning for the city, the second highest level of flood warning, only trumped by a flood emergency.
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On Friday afternoon, the rain and flooding in forced the closure of numerous thoroughfares in LA.
Interstate 5, the West Coast’s major north-south highway, was closed on Thursday through Friday night because of heavy snow in the Sacramento River Canyon.
Other parts of the state, where over 121,000 residents are currently without power, are being saturated by heavy amounts of rainfall.
Downtown Los Angeles is expected to get up to 5 inches of rain. The National Weather Service even issued a flash flood warning for the city, the second highest level of flood warning, only trumped by a flood emergency.
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On Friday afternoon, the rain and flooding in forced the closure of numerous thoroughfares in LA.
Interstate 5, the West Coast’s major north-south highway, was closed on Thursday through Friday night because of heavy snow in the Sacramento River Canyon.
Over 120,00 residents are currently without power because of the storm.AP Photo/John Locher
Besides the moisture, residents may experience up to 75 mph wind gusts. The National Weather Service said wind gusts of up to 100 mph are also possible in isolated areas.
The West Coast isn’t the only part of the US experiencing wild winter weather.
In Michigan, over 460,000 are without power after freezing temperatures following one of the worst ice storms the area has seen in decades.
The western part of the state saw rain, sleet and snow, which causes downed power lines.
Besides the moisture, residents may experience up to 75 mph wind gusts. The National Weather Service said wind gusts of up to 100 mph are also possible in isolated areas.
The West Coast isn’t the only part of the US experiencing wild winter weather.
In Michigan, over 460,000 are without power after freezing temperatures following one of the worst ice storms the area has seen in decades.
The western part of the state saw rain, sleet and snow, which causes downed power lines.
California, along with other states, are getting hit with a massive amount of snow and sleet.REUTERS/Laure Andrillon
Late Saturday morning, snowbirds in New York City did experience some excitement at the sight of snow, even if mild.
“If there were any accumulations, in my opinion, it wouldn’t be terribly a lot,” David said.
“You’re maybe looking at a coating on the ground. And that could change, depending on how much warm air sneaks in with the system, but it’s a possibility.”
Late Saturday morning, snowbirds in New York City did experience some excitement at the sight of snow, even if mild.
“If there were any accumulations, in my opinion, it wouldn’t be terribly a lot,” David said.
“You’re maybe looking at a coating on the ground. And that could change, depending on how much warm air sneaks in with the system, but it’s a possibility.”
Southern California delights in rare snowfall as winter blast lingers
February 24, 2023
By Rich McKay
(Reuters) -A slow-moving winter storm intensified over California on Friday, triggering the first blizzard warning in parts of the Los Angeles area since 1989 and creating the extraordinary sight of snowflakes swirling around the iconic Hollywood sign.
Snow and freezing rain pushed into the Pacific Coast state from the north, where it dumped about 10 inches (25 cm) of powder on Portland, Oregon, earlier in the week.
The storm was expected to strengthen on Friday and linger over California through Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
A massive low-pressure system driven from the Arctic was responsible for the unusual conditions, said Bryan Jackson, a forecaster at the weather service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.
In Southern California, "this is a rare case of a cold, significant storm event," Jackson said.
In a sight that must have delighted many Angelenos, snowflakes even fell around the iconic Hollywood sign atop Mount Lee in the hills above the city, known for its sunny days and palm trees.
At an elevation of 1,500 feet (457 meters), the sign - with its giant, white-block lettering visible for miles around the city - was close to the threshold for the formation of snow during the storm, Jackson said.
Craig Robert Young, an actor who starred in the CW Network's fantasy show "Charmed" and TNT's "The Last Ship," lives in Hollywood Hills within eyeshot of the famed sign. He said he was amazed to see snow swirling there.
"I moved here from the UK 20 years ago, and haven't seen snow since," said Young, 46. "I actually had a snowball fight - it brought me back to my childhood."
In nearby San Bernardino County, the sheriff's office posted a video clip on Twitter showing deputies lying in the snow, flapping arms and legs to make "snow angels," while also urging residents to stay off roads.
A separate storm that clobbered the Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes regions earlier this week blew out to sea on Friday after passing over New England, the weather service said. But more than 750,000 homes and businesses, mostly in Michigan, remained without electricity.
Powerful winter storms, interspersed with extreme heat and dry spells, are symptoms of climate change, experts say, and growing more frequent and intense. The East Coast has enjoyed a mild winter, but heavy snowfalls and extremely low temperatures have hit the Northern Plains.
SEVEN FEET OF SNOW IN SOME SPOTS
Even before the latest storm in California, much of the state has experienced an unusually rainy, chilly winter.
In Los Angeles County on Friday, a blizzard warning was issued for the San Gabriel Mountains north of the city, where 2 to 5 feet (60 to 152 cm) of snow could fall above an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,370 meters), the weather service said. Seven feet (2.1 meters) of snow could accumulate in some spots with winds gusting up to 60 miles (96 km) per hour.
Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County already has 28 inches (71 cm) of snow on the ground, Jackson said - and more was coming.
Heavy rain will inundate many parts of California through Saturday, the weather service said. Two to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) are forecast for Los Angeles and San Bernardino, raising the risk of flash flooding. Temperatures could drop into the low 40s Fahrenheit.
More than 120,000 California homes and businesses, mostly in the northern part of the state, were without power on Friday, according to Poweroutage.us.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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