Winter Storm Hits California: Mountainous Areas Experience Late-Season Snowfall
Record Snowfall and Road Closures
As spring blooms across much of California, mountainous areas in the state’s northern region have been plunged back into winter weather over the weekend. Heavy snowfall of 31 inches near the top of Mount Lassen between Saturday and Sunday occurred, causing significant disruptions on the roads. According to the Sacramento branch of the National Weather Service (NWS), the accumulation of snow led to travel difficulties and safety hazards on Interstate 80, resulting in spinouts and collisions.
Vehicle Constraints and Road Reopenings
The storm prompted the closure of a stretch of Interstate 80, from Truckee to the state line. Eastbound traffic from Alta to the Nevada state line and westbound traffic in Truckee was later resumed with chain controls. However, the roads remained treacherous, and the NWS advised drivers to exercise caution.
Winter Wonderland and Record Rainfall
Aside from the extensive snowfall, some areas in Sacramento County also experienced snowfall. Social media footage shared by the Folsom Police Department showed a police dog running in the snow. Moreover, the Palisades Tahoe ski resort reported 26 inches of snow in 24 hours, referring to it as one of the best May powder days in recent memory.
The winter storm also brought noteworthy rainfall to several cities in Northern California, breaking records for the highest amount of rainfall on May 4. Redding in Shasta County received 1.47 inches of rain, the highest amount since May 4, 1951, while Stockton in San Joaquin County received a record-breaking half-inch of rain on Saturday.
Weather Outlook and Future Impacts
Despite the disruptions caused by the winter storm, weather forecasts indicate a return to spring-like weather in the region for the upcoming week. However, the NWS Weather Prediction Center warns of continuing showers and thunderstorms in the Pacific Northwest, which will progress eastward to the Northern Intermountain Region and Central California by late Monday.
On a positive note, the weather is expected to improve on Tuesday morning as showers and thunderstorms move southeastward to the Southern Plains and Southern Rockies, eventually extending westward over the Ohio Valley by Tuesday afternoon, according to the NWS.
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