California Mountains Face Crushing Snowfall
A stormy weather pattern has settled in over the West, and California will endure the harshest conditions well into this week. While rain drenches much of the state, heavy snow will continue to pile up in the mountains.
Snowfall totals in parts of the Sierra Nevada reached 2-5 feet at many locations through Sunday afternoon.
Another 1 to 3 feet of snow can be expected in these areas through Monday night.
This means that storm totals will reach as much as 6 to 8 feet of snow, with locally higher amounts in some of the peaks above 6,000 feet.
On top of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, at an elevation of around 11,000 feet, 9 feet of snow were measured Sunday morning!
At the base of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, at an elevation of around 8,000 feet, 6.5 feet of snow were measured. The all-time yearly snowfall record at the base is 632 inches, and the snowfall through Sunday morning brought the snowfall to 107 inches for this year so far.
Travel will become impossible in these areas. Officials may be forced to close the mountain passes, including I-80's Donner Pass as the snow continues to pile up.
On top of the heavy snowfall, gusty winds will lead to blowing and drifting snow. The wind-whipped snow could create white-out conditions for a time.
Wintry weather can be expected in the Cascades and northern Rockies today as well.
While accumulations will not be quite as hefty, as much as a foot of snow will blanket the higher mountains of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado through tonight. Travel could become slippery and slower along portions of Interstates 84, 80, 70 and 15 as a result.
Content contributed by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 107° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 28° | Daniel, WY |
| Precip | 2.39" | Alexandria, MN |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
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