California weather — Flood and avalanches warning amid ‘life and death’ warning for homeless people
California’s first blizzard warning since 1989
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.California weathered a punishing weekend of heavy snow, torrential rain and bitterly cold temperatures.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the conditions were posed “a matter of life or death for many of our unhoused neighbors,” and asked resident to help those without permanent shelter find emergency lodgings during the storm.
The storms triggered the state’s first blizzard warning since 1989 with record snowfall forecast in some high-elevation areas. Up to 8ft of snow was forecasted to fall in the mountains outside of Los Angeles on the storm’s second day. The National Weather Service warned that travel would be very difficult to impossible.
The storm also brought the threat of ocean water spouts and land-based tornadoes in the Los Angeles area of southeast Santa Barbara and southern Ventura counties.
A coast-to-coast winter storm pummeled much of the western and northern United States, styming travel plans and leaving nearly 1million people without power.
But the country was a landscape of climate extremes: While deep Arctic air caused temperatures to plummet as much as 30 to 40 degrees below average in parts of the West and Plains, the US also experienced its first 100-degree day of 2023. Falcon Lake in Texas hit 100F on Wednesday as temperature records were broken across the Southwest.
Watch: Chicago area rocked with power outages
California’s last big storm put a dent in state’s megadrought problem
Storms that rolled across California from late December into January have put a dent in the state’s drought, officials said on Wednesday.
US officials cautiously announced a jump in initial allocations of federally-controlled water to agricultural, municipal and industrial users of the Central Valley Project system.
Nine atmospheric river storms at the turn of the year greatly improved the water supply outlook following three years of record drought, US Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Ernest Conant said in an online briefing.
Major Central Valley Project reservoirs that were dwindling have since been rising, and the Sierra Nevada snowpack, a key source of water when it melts, is well above average.
“However, we’re all too aware of uncertainties that exist and how rapidly conditions in California can change,” Conant said. “And not all river basins were equally improved, highlighting the need that late winter and early spring rain and snow is still needed.”
In pictures: Winter Storm Olive brings bitter cold to South Dakota
Watch: Winter weather leaves bare shelves at UK grocery stores
Hard-hit Minnesota posts snow totals with warning for drivers
The Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St Paul received around a foot in most locations, the National Weather Service reported on Thursday.
Overall totals as of 6am Thursday were 12.5 inches in Chanhassen; 8.3 inches in St Cloud; and 9.8 inches in Eau Claire.
“The last band of snow will finish up by noon with additional accumulations of 1-3 inches,” NWS reported.
“Thankfully this storm didn’t produce the amounts it had the potential to, but it still produced a lot, and combined with the windy conditions it is simply not safe to travel right now. Many roads remain completely snow-covered and in some cases closed. Stay safe out there!” forecasters added.
Rarer-than-rare blizzard warning issued in California
A blizzard warning was issued in California this week for the first time since George Bush (Senior) was in the White House.
The National Weather Service (NWS) announced the warning for Southern California mountains through Saturday for the first time since 1989.
There will be several rounds of snow leaving three to five feet of powder across the Sierra Nevadas.
The Mount Baldy ski resort, located in the Angeles National Forest in southern California, is forecast to be the snowiest ski resort on Earth over the next five days with 100-plus inches of snow expected, tweeted Colin McCarthy from the popular weather account US_Stormwatch.
But the moisture-laden air will also mean increased risk of flash flooding into the weekend, according to NWS. Coastal areas have already begun to see large waves which could reach 10-14ft today.
In pictures: Winter Storm Olive
Watch: Snow-covered eagle captured on nature cam in Minnesota
Treacherous conditions close roads is a number of states
Winter Storm Olive created treacherous driving conditions up and down the country this week.
Some drivers were left stranded on iced-over roads and many major highways were closed.
In Wyoming, the state Transportation Department posted on social media that roads across much of the southern part of the state were impassable.
Rescuers tried to reach people stranded in vehicles but high winds and drifting snow created a “near-impossible situation” for them, said Sgt Jeremy Beck of the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
Unexpectedly heavy snow during afternoon rush hour on Wednesday sent dozens of cars spinning out in Portland, Oregon, and caused hourslong traffic jams. The regional bus service offered free rides to warming shelters for homeless individuals.
In Arizona, several interstates and other highways were closed due to high winds, falling temperatures and blowing snow. The Arizona Department of Transportation advised people not to travel as forecasters said snow could fall at a rate of two to three inches per hour on Thursday.
Many roads also remain snow-covered and in some cases closed in Minneapolis.
AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments