an unusual cold weather system sweeping in Gulf of Alaska Saturday brings a rare taste winter Heading to the West Coast in mid-August. Snow covered the mountains california and the Pacific Northwest, disrupting travel and creating winter wonderlands in unexpected places.
In California, a portion of Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park was closed after about 3 inches of snow fell overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Dust off layers of surprisingly white Washington’s Mount Rainier and Pinnacle Vista, a scenic overlook southeast of Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
“It was definitely unexpected,” said Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Rich, who was startled by the snow in Minaret Vista in August. “It’s not every day you get to spend your birthday in the middle of summer in a winter wonderland. This is a unique reminder of why I love serving in this field.
An unseasonable cold snap also affected northern Nevada, where rain fell on the eve of the annual Burning Man festival, forcing organizers to temporarily close entrance gates on Saturday. The festival, known for its makeshift cities in the desert, turned to mud last year due to heavy rains.
Elsewhere, snow fell overnight at Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski resort in California, prompting the National Weather Service to warn hikers and campers to prepare for slippery roads. Record rainfall also occurred in the Northern California cities of Redding, Red Bluff and Stockton, with continued showers south of Lake Oroville.
Tioga Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with an elevation of more than 9,900 feet and the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park, receives a rare snowfall in August. The last time snow fell in August in the area was in 2003, according to forecasts.
Although ski season is still a few months away, resorts are already welcoming the beginning of winter. Palisades Tahoe Resort noted in a social media post that “it’s a cool and windy day in August, and a storm may bring the first snowfall of the season this afternoon!”
Despite the precipitation, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center warned that gusty winds associated with the cold front could spark fires. The Park Fire, California’s largest wildfire this year, has burned more than 671 square miles since it broke out in late July.
California’s wildfire season began in sweltering July heat, but fire activity has slowed recently. However, as the cold front moves away, the brief return of winter weather is expected to once again be replaced by summer heat.
In California, a portion of Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park was closed after about 3 inches of snow fell overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Dust off layers of surprisingly white Washington’s Mount Rainier and Pinnacle Vista, a scenic overlook southeast of Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
“It was definitely unexpected,” said Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Rich, who was startled by the snow in Minaret Vista in August. “It’s not every day you get to spend your birthday in the middle of summer in a winter wonderland. This is a unique reminder of why I love serving in this field.
An unseasonable cold snap also affected northern Nevada, where rain fell on the eve of the annual Burning Man festival, forcing organizers to temporarily close entrance gates on Saturday. The festival, known for its makeshift cities in the desert, turned to mud last year due to heavy rains.
Elsewhere, snow fell overnight at Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski resort in California, prompting the National Weather Service to warn hikers and campers to prepare for slippery roads. Record rainfall also occurred in the Northern California cities of Redding, Red Bluff and Stockton, with continued showers south of Lake Oroville.
Tioga Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with an elevation of more than 9,900 feet and the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park, receives a rare snowfall in August. The last time snow fell in August in the area was in 2003, according to forecasts.
Although ski season is still a few months away, resorts are already welcoming the beginning of winter. Palisades Tahoe Resort noted in a social media post that “it’s a cool and windy day in August, and a storm may bring the first snowfall of the season this afternoon!”
Despite the precipitation, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center warned that gusty winds associated with the cold front could spark fires. The Park Fire, California’s largest wildfire this year, has burned more than 671 square miles since it broke out in late July.
California’s wildfire season began in sweltering July heat, but fire activity has slowed recently. However, as the cold front moves away, the brief return of winter weather is expected to once again be replaced by summer heat.
