A Swedish man survived for over two months in a snowbound car in temperatures as low as -22F (-30C), relying on the igloo effect to retain warmth, eating snow, and staying inside his warm clothes and sleeping bag.
The 45-year-old was discovered by snowmobilers who initially assumed the car was a wreck until they dug their way to a window and saw movement inside, reported the Vasterbotten Courier newspaper.
“He was in a very poor state. Poor condition. He said he’d been there for a long time and had survived on a little snow.
“He said himself he hadn’t eaten anything since December,”
Doctors said they would normally expect a person to survive without food for around four weeks. One doctor told the newspaper that the man might have survived so long by going into a kind of hibernation. [source]
The first weekend of May will feel more like March with steady rain, mountain snow and cool temperatures.The storm is causing travel delays in the Sierra. See further below for live updates and follow live updates from our evening newscasts in the player below. KCRA 3 is calling Saturday an Impact Day because the rain and snow is affecting outdoor activities and mountain travel.Meteorologist Heather Waldman said Friday’s peak temperature was 84 degrees. Temperatures will be about 30 degrees cooler on Saturday. How much rain and snow is coming to Northern CaliforniaValley rain amounts on Saturday have been where they were predicted, in the half-inch to three-quarters of an inch range. There is a chance for some late thunderstorms with the north end of the Sacramento Valley having the highest likelihood. The Foothills will see rain all day. Totals will be over an inch for communities south of Highway 50. Auburn and Placerville could see close to an inch and a half of rain. Areas north of I-80 including Grass Valley could see around two and a half inches of rain by Sunday afternoon. Snow levels could drop to as low as 4,000 feet by Saturday night.The Sierra passes could see anywhere between 8-12 inches of snow. Lake levels could see 4-8 inches. Communities around 4,000 feet including Pollock Pines, Arnold and Baxter could see a slushy 1-3 inches of accumulation with minimal travel impact.Sunday will remain cold and unsettled over the mountains.Looking ahead to next week, Northern California appears to be dry and back to warmer temperatures next week.| VIDEO BELOW | Caltrans official shares travel tips for weather impact day Saturday Live Weather Updates9:08 p.m.: Traffic is flowing again with chain controls on eastbound I-80 in the Sierra. Parts of westbound I-80 remain closed. Highway 89 is closed at Emerald Bay.6:25 p.m.: After reopening temporarily, westbound Highway 50 closed again at Chiapa Drive and Meyers due to a big rig blocking the road, according to Caltrans.6 p.m.: Sacramento area temperatures will rise by more than 20 degrees next week.5:15 p.m.: Dirk Verdoorn describes a “wall of lightning” as thunderstorms north of Sacramento move east.5 p.m.: Here’s a look at current road closures, including on Interstate 80 due to spinouts.Drivers who were on I-80 before the closures were announced were stuck in the backup for hours while being told to turn around. KCRA 3’s Orko Manna and Mason Silva were among those in the backup for around four hours.Some people heading to their destinations said it was among one of the longest delays they have experienced.“We’ve never been stuck like this, this long before. This is something new, and especially in the first week of May. It’s interesting,” Reno resident Steve Blackhall said. “We just want to get home and see our dogs.”Caltrans said crews were working hard to remove the vehicles that had spun out and clear snow from the interstate. Blackhall said his SUV is prepared for wintry weather.“We have four-wheel drive and I lock in four-wheel drive in these kinds of conditions. Take it slow and easy. Try not to pass everybody, and just drive safely and carefully,” Blackhall said.Drivers across the board said they came ready for the conditions.“It’s a four-by-four, we have snow tires, and if we really feel that the car is slipping, we also have our chains, so yeah, we’re all prepared for that,” Dublin, California resident Monisha Singh said.Singh was with a few people visiting California from all the way across the globe in India. They said, despite the traffic impacts, they were enjoying the snowfall.“We didn’t predict this. We had plans to go to Tahoe and it’s especially, it’s mesmerizing. It really feels good. Feels good,” India resident Pulkit Agrawal said.While spring snow is not entirely uncommon, visitors did not expect to see it this time of year in Northern California.“It’s awesome, you know. Who expects snowfall in May? It’s simply awesome,” India resident Neha Bhati said. “Right now, it’s so Christmasy and everything is so beautiful, wonderful.”4:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service is warning of the risk of 30 mph winds and hail in parts of the region. 3:55 p.m.: Eastbound I-80 is closed at Colfax and State Route 20 is closed at Nevada Street due to spinouts. 3:50 p.m.: Traffic is being held on Highway 50 eastbound at Echo Summit and westbound at Myers, according to Caltrans. 2 p.m.: Traffic is being turned back on I-80 between Truckee and Baxter due to multiple spinouts1:10 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Orko Manna is in Cisco Grove, where snow is falling. 11:40 a.m.: Chain controls are in place on I-80 between Nyack and Truckee in both directions, Caltrans said. 11:15 a.m.: Heavy rain has discouraged some from attending Sacramento’s Midtown Farmers Market. 10 a.m.: According to the National Weather Service, isolated thunderstorms are possible in Northern California on Saturday. 8:30 a.m.: KCRA 3’s weather team suggests Saturday’s weather is perfect for staying indoors. REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Kelly Curran on Twitter.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The first weekend of May will feel more like March with steady rain, mountain snow and cool temperatures.
The storm is causing travel delays in the Sierra. See further below for live updates and follow live updates from our evening newscasts in the player below.
KCRA 3 is calling Saturday an Impact Day because the rain and snow is affecting outdoor activities and mountain travel.
Meteorologist Heather Waldman said Friday’s peak temperature was 84 degrees. Temperatures will be about 30 degrees cooler on Saturday.
Hearst Owned
Saturday will be cool and rainy throughout the Valley and Foothills.
How much rain and snow is coming to Northern California
Valley rain amounts on Saturday have been where they were predicted, in the half-inch to three-quarters of an inch range.
There is a chance for some late thunderstorms with the north end of the Sacramento Valley having the highest likelihood.
The Foothills will see rain all day. Totals will be over an inch for communities south of Highway 50. Auburn and Placerville could see close to an inch and a half of rain. Areas north of I-80 including Grass Valley could see around two and a half inches of rain by Sunday afternoon.
Snow levels could drop to as low as 4,000 feet by Saturday night.
The Sierra passes could see anywhere between 8-12 inches of snow. Lake levels could see 4-8 inches. Communities around 4,000 feet including Pollock Pines, Arnold and Baxter could see a slushy 1-3 inches of accumulation with minimal travel impact.
Sunday will remain cold and unsettled over the mountains.
Looking ahead to next week, Northern California appears to be dry and back to warmer temperatures next week.
| VIDEO BELOW | Caltrans official shares travel tips for weather impact day
Saturday Live Weather Updates
9:08 p.m.: Traffic is flowing again with chain controls on eastbound I-80 in the Sierra.Parts of westbound I-80 remain closed. Highway 89 is closed at Emerald Bay.
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Update 8:45pm All traffic released EB I-80 with chain controls (R2) Alta to NV state line, Trucks Max. WB I-80 remains closed, No ETO. Reminder speed limit under chain control is 30 mph along I-80. https://t.co/CegsfdVff5
— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) May 5, 2024
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6:25 p.m.: After reopening temporarily, westbound Highway 50 closed again at Chiapa Drive and Meyers due to a big rig blocking the road, according to Caltrans.
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Spoke too soon … Holding WB US-50 at Chiapa Drive and Meyers for a big rig blocking the roadway. No ETO. https://t.co/e8ZFddn09P
— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) May 5, 2024
6 p.m.: Sacramento area temperatures will rise by more than 20 degrees next week.
5:15 p.m.: Dirk Verdoorn describes a “wall of lightning” as thunderstorms north of Sacramento move east.
5 p.m.: Here’s a look at current road closures, including on Interstate 80 due to spinouts.
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Additional update as of 3:10pm I-80 WB turning all traffic at NV state line, crews are also turning trucks I-80 EB at Applegate and SR-20 at Nevada Street. Still no ETO. https://t.co/1YyYjUe4A2
— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) May 4, 2024
Drivers who were on I-80 before the closures were announced were stuck in the backup for hours while being told to turn around. KCRA 3’s Orko Manna and Mason Silva were among those in the backup for around four hours.
Some people heading to their destinations said it was among one of the longest delays they have experienced.
“We’ve never been stuck like this, this long before. This is something new, and especially in the first week of May. It’s interesting,” Reno resident Steve Blackhall said. “We just want to get home and see our dogs.”
Caltrans said crews were working hard to remove the vehicles that had spun out and clear snow from the interstate. Blackhall said his SUV is prepared for wintry weather.
“We have four-wheel drive and I lock in four-wheel drive in these kinds of conditions. Take it slow and easy. Try not to pass everybody, and just drive safely and carefully,” Blackhall said.
Drivers across the board said they came ready for the conditions.
“It’s a four-by-four, we have snow tires, and if we really feel that the car is slipping, we also have our chains, so yeah, we’re all prepared for that,” Dublin, California resident Monisha Singh said.
Singh was with a few people visiting California from all the way across the globe in India. They said, despite the traffic impacts, they were enjoying the snowfall.
“We didn’t predict this. We had plans to go to Tahoe and it’s especially, it’s mesmerizing. It really feels good. Feels good,” India resident Pulkit Agrawal said.
While spring snow is not entirely uncommon, visitors did not expect to see it this time of year in Northern California.
“It’s awesome, you know. Who expects snowfall in May? It’s simply awesome,” India resident Neha Bhati said. “Right now, it’s so Christmasy and everything is so beautiful, wonderful.”
4:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service is warning of the risk of 30 mph winds and hail in parts of the region.
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3:55 p.m.: Eastbound I-80 is closed at Colfax and State Route 20 is closed at Nevada Street due to spinouts.
3:50 p.m.: Traffic is being held on Highway 50 eastbound at Echo Summit and westbound at Myers, according to Caltrans.
2 p.m.: Traffic is being turned back on I-80 between Truckee and Baxter due to multiple spinouts
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1:10 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Orko Manna is in Cisco Grove, where snow is falling.
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11:40 a.m.: Chain controls are in place on I-80 between Nyack and Truckee in both directions, Caltrans said.
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11:15 a.m.: Heavy rain has discouraged some from attending Sacramento’s Midtown Farmers Market.
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10 a.m.: According to the National Weather Service, isolated thunderstorms are possible in Northern California on Saturday.
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Isolated thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening (15-30% probability), with best chances along and north of the I-80 corridor.
8:30 a.m.: KCRA 3’s weather team suggests Saturday’s weather is perfect for staying indoors.
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Breezy conditions and plenty of pollen in the air will make Wednesday a tough day for people in Northern California who struggle with allergies.Meteorologist Tamara Berg said these are the sustained winds you can expect in different parts of the region.Sacramento Valley: 10-20 mphFoothills: 5-15 mphSierra: 5-10 mphNorth winds could also reach gusts in the 20-30 mph range, especially in Yolo and Solano counties, Berg said.Those winds and the pollen will make many want to keep allergy medicine handy. Most of the pollen is from the grass, but a good amount is also coming from the trees.Warming continues for Northern California before rain and snow returnBerg said Wednesday’s peak temperature could reach 82 degrees, continuing this week’s trend of warmer days. Thursday and Friday are also forecast to stay warm in the low-to-mid 80s, but that will be short-lived. Weekend temperatures will plummet to the mid-to-upper 60s.And when Saturday comes by, Berg said widespread rain and mountain snow will begin. Wet weather continues into Sunday. How much and when exactly it begins and ends is still being calculated by our KCRA 3 weather team.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Kelly Curran on Twitter.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Breezy conditions and plenty of pollen in the air will make Wednesday a tough day for people in Northern California who struggle with allergies.
Meteorologist Tamara Berg said these are the sustained winds you can expect in different parts of the region.
Sacramento Valley: 10-20 mph
Foothills: 5-15 mph
Sierra: 5-10 mph
North winds could also reach gusts in the 20-30 mph range, especially in Yolo and Solano counties, Berg said.
Those winds and the pollen will make many want to keep allergy medicine handy. Most of the pollen is from the grass, but a good amount is also coming from the trees.
Warming continues for Northern California before rain and snow return
Berg said Wednesday’s peak temperature could reach 82 degrees, continuing this week’s trend of warmer days. Thursday and Friday are also forecast to stay warm in the low-to-mid 80s, but that will be short-lived. Weekend temperatures will plummet to the mid-to-upper 60s.
And when Saturday comes by, Berg said widespread rain and mountain snow will begin. Wet weather continues into Sunday. How much and when exactly it begins and ends is still being calculated by our KCRA 3 weather team.
While Tuesday will be another pleasant and warm day for Northern California, the weekend is forecast to be dramatically different, with rain and high-elevation snow.The weekdays heading into the first weekend of May will lead many to believe a cold, soggy Saturday and Sunday aren’t likely. But Meteorologist Tamara Berg explained that a weather system beginning Saturday morning will drop temperatures to the mid-to-upper 60s.On Tuesday, temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. North winds will also be around the 10-12 mph range, which will increase Tuesday into Wednesday, where Berg said there could be occasional gusts around 25 to 30 mph.Winds will decrease on Thursday, and both Thursday and Friday will remain consistently in the 80-degree range before that large drop in temperatures for the weekend.The timing, location and amount of rain and snow still require clarification. Our KCRA 3 weather team will continue to track those changes as we get closer to the weekend.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Kelly Curran on Twitter.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
While Tuesday will be another pleasant and warm day for Northern California, the weekend is forecast to be dramatically different, with rain and high-elevation snow.
The weekdays heading into the first weekend of May will lead many to believe a cold, soggy Saturday and Sunday aren’t likely. But Meteorologist Tamara Berg explained that a weather system beginning Saturday morning will drop temperatures to the mid-to-upper 60s.
On Tuesday, temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. North winds will also be around the 10-12 mph range, which will increase Tuesday into Wednesday, where Berg said there could be occasional gusts around 25 to 30 mph.
Winds will decrease on Thursday, and both Thursday and Friday will remain consistently in the 80-degree range before that large drop in temperatures for the weekend.
The timing, location and amount of rain and snow still require clarification. Our KCRA 3 weather team will continue to track those changes as we get closer to the weekend.
The weekend-long series of thunderstorms and snowstorms across Colorado will linger Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Lingering rain showers may remain over the plains Sunday in northeast and north central Colorado. Mountain snow showers will diminish throughout the day but a few additional inches of snow is possible. Widespread rain showers may return Wednesday with a few inches of snowfall for the northern mountains, according to NWS forecasters.
There is a slight chance of rain showers in Denver on Sunday morning with possible showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunday will be partly sunny with a high of 59 degrees and a 30% chance of precipitation. Wind gusts could reach 15 miles per hour.
Sunday evening will be partly cloudy with a low of 39 degrees and a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday are expected to be mostly clear with highs around 70 degrees. Rain and thunderstorms return Wednesday with a 40% percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon and may continue throughout the week.
Showers, high elevation snow showers and thunderstorms will develop later in the day in higher terrain portions of central, east and south central and southeast Colorado and move over the plains Sunday evening, according to the NWS.
Lingering snow showers with light accumulation will continue over the mountains and higher terrain of Teller and El Paso County. Freezing fog is possible for portions of the Palmer Divide.
There is a slight chance that some of these showers and thunderstorms may produce flash flooding for burn scar and urbanized areas. Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour and dangerous cloud to ground lightning with hail up to half an inch in diameter is possible. There may be a few additional inches of snow over the southern Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains.
Critical fire weather conditions return to portions of the San Luis Valley and eastern plains on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday afternoon and evening in western Colorado. Dry conditions return Monday with a light chance of precipitation along the Wyoming and Colorado. More widespread precipitation may return to western Colorado Wednesday into Thursday.
Rain is expected in Denver on Monday, but high fire danger persists throughout the plains and Palmer Divide while heavy snow is possible in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
Denverites can expect breezy, sunny weather with a high of 74 degrees and wind gusts as high as 34 miles per hour on Monday. A 20 percent chance of showers after 3 p.m. increases to 60 percent with gusts as high as 37 miles per hour before 9 p.m. Monday night will hit a low of 48 with a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. and after midnight and a chance of showers between 9 p.m. and midnight.
Temperatures will continue to drop Tuesday and cloudy, breezy weather is expected. A high of 68 degrees with wind gusts around 38 miles per hour and a 50 percent chance of showers before noon Tuesday drops to 44 degrees that night with wind gusts decreasing to 31 miles per hour.
Warm, dry and windy weather will create critical fire weather conditions across much of the Colorado eastern plains Monday afternoon and evening with strong winds and low humidity increasing fire danger south of Interstate 76.
A red flag warning is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Monday for the Palmer Divide and plains southeast of Interstate 76. Southwest winds with gusts up to 45 miles per hour and humidity as low as seven percent will create favorable conditions for rapid fire spread. Wind gusts may reach 50 miles per hour in Lincoln County.
Higher humidity levels decrease fire weather conditions north of Denver and throughout the mountains. A winter storm warning from 3 p.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday is in place for Rocky Mountain National Park, the Medicine Bow Range, the Mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range and the Indian Peaks. Total snow accumulation between 8 and 18 inches with and wind gusts as high as 60 miles per hour is expected.
Heaviest snow is expected to hit the northern Front Range mountains, while wind gusts will be strongest over the southern Front Range. Roads will likely become slick and blowing snow will reduce visibility.
A winter weather advisory is also in effect from 3 p.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday for the Park Range and Rabbit Ears Pass. Snow accumulation will be between 6 and 12 inches with wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
It might feel like spring Wednesday, with highs across Los Angeles reaching into the high 70s, but Thursday is going to be a “shock to the system,” weather experts say.
Temperatures on Thursday and Friday are expected to drop 15 to 20 degrees from Wednesday’s highs as a cold storm blows across California, bringing low-elevation snow, showers and the potential for severe thunderstorms.
Some Southern California areas could feel historic low temperatures Friday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Wofford said.
“With the system coming in, we’re going to see a dramatic drop [in temperatures] tomorrow,” Wofford said Wednesday from the weather service’s Oxnard office. “[There will be] an almost 20-degree drop in temperatures, and even cooler on Friday.”
Highs across most inland areas Wednesday are expected to peak in the high 70s, possibly reaching 80 degrees, Wofford said. But the temperatures will quickly give way to highs in the 50s on Thursday and Friday.
“Friday’s max [temperatures] across the coasts and [valleys] will be in the mid- to upper 50s, which would be cooler than normal in early January none the less April!” forecasters said in the weather service’s daily update.
Along with cold weather, snow levels will drop significantly lower than most storms, with accumulating snow possible on all of the major mountain passes in Southern California, including the Grapevine, the weather service warned.
“In general, we don’t get that many storms where snow levels drop to 3,000 feet or potentially down the Antelope Valley floor,” Wofford said. He said snow accumulation in the Antelope Valley isn’t likely, but he expected the area will get a mix of rain, snow and sleet. The nearby foothills could get up to an inch of snow, he said.
Snow is expected in Southern California on Thursday and Friday night, with 1 to 3 inches likely between 3,500 and 4,500 feet in elevation and more than 3 inches above 5,000 feet.
The storm’s cold nature is making it not as moisture-heavy as other recent storms, but that cold air is increasing instability in the atmosphere, weather officials said. Showers on Thursday and Friday could include thunderstorms, which have the chance to bring hail, downpours, small tornadoes and waterspouts — though that will be isolated, Wofford said.
Rain totals will mostly remain under half an inch, with some locally higher accumulations where thunderstorms occur.
Temperatures across Central California also are likely to drop 20 degrees by Thursday, officials said — from highs in the 70s to around 50 or 60 degrees.
In the southern Sierra Nevada, a winter weather advisory will go into effect late Wednesday and remain through Friday, with 6 to 12 inches of snow expected above 3,000 feet.
“Travel will be very difficult,” the warning said. “Strong winds could cause tree damage. Cold wind chill readings as low as 20 degrees below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.”
In the state’s northwestern corner, weather officials warned about subfreezing, “unseasonably cold” temperatures beginning late Wednesday, with snow falling as low at 1,500 feet and mountain temperatures dropping to 15 to 25 degrees.
GOTHIC — Four miles from the nearest plowed road high in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, a 73-year-old man with a billowing gray beard and two replaced hips trudged through his front yard to measure fresh snow that fell during one mid-March day.
Billy Barr first began recording snow and weather data more than 50 years ago as a freshly minted Rutgers University environmental science graduate in Gothic, near part of the Colorado River’s headwaters.
Bored and looking to keep busy, he had rigged rudimentary equipment and each day had jotted the inches of fresh snow, just as he had logged gas station brands as a child on family road trips.
Unpaid but driven by compulsive curiosity and a preference for spending more than half the year on skis rather than on foot, Barr stayed here and kept measuring snowfall day after day, winter after winter.
His faithful measurements revealed something he never expected long ago: snow is arriving later and disappearing earlier as the world warms. That’s a concerning sign for millions of people in the drought-stricken Southwest who rely on mountain snowpack to slowly melt throughout spring and summer to provide a steady stream of water for cities, agriculture and ecosystems.
“Snow is a physical form of a water reservoir, and if there’s not enough of it, it’s gone,” Barr said.
So-called “citizen scientists” have long played roles in making observations about plants and counting wildlife to help researchers better understand the environment.
Barr is modest about his own contributions, although the once-handwritten snow data published on his website has informed numerous scientific papers and helped calibrate aerial snow sensing tools. And with each passing year, his data continues to grow.
“Anybody could do it,” said the self-deprecating bachelor with a softened Jersey accent. “Being socially inept made me so I could do it for 50 years, but anyone can sit there and watch something like that.”
Two winters ago, Barr’s legs started buckling with frustrating frequency as he’d ski mellow loops through spruce trees looking for animal tracks — another data point he collects. He feared it might be his last year in Gothic, a former mining town turned into a research facility owned by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, where he worked full time for decades and is now a part-time accountant.
“I was running out of time to live here,” he said. “That’s why I went through the hip replacements to prolong it.”
Two hip replacement surgeries provided an extended lease on high-altitude living. Barr cross-country skied more this past December than he did the entire previous winter.
“Unless something else goes wrong, which it will, but unless it’s severe, I think I can last out here a while longer,” he said.
A lot could go wrong. As Barr sat on a bench beside at the research lab on an unseasonably warm March day, a heavy slab of snow slid off the roof and launched the bench forward, nearly causing him to fall.
Not all risks are avoidable, but some are. If the ski track is too icy, he’ll walk parallel in untracked snow to get better footing. He grows produce in a greenhouse attached to his home, and most of his non-perishable goods — stocked the previous autumn — are organic. He wears a mask when he’s around others indoors.
“I can’t get a respiratory disease at this altitude,” he said.
For Barr, longevity means more time for the quiet mountain lifestyle he enjoys from his rustic two-room house heated by passive solar and a wood stove. He uses a composting toilet and relies on solar panels to heat water, do laundry and enable his nightly movie viewing.
When he eventually retires from the mountains, Barr hopes to continue most of his long-running weather collection remotely.
He has been testing remote tools for five years, trying to calibrate them to his dated but reliable techniques. He figures it will take a few more years of testing before he’ll trust the new tools and, even then, fears equipment failure.
For now, he measures snow in his tried and true way:
Around 4 p.m., he hikes uphill from his home to a flat, square board painted white, and sticks a metal ruler into accumulated snow to measure its depth. Next he pushes a clear canister upside down into the snow, uses a sheet of metal to scrape off the rest of the snow, then slides the sheet under the canister to help flip it over. He weighs the snow, subtracting the canister’s weight, which lets him calculate the water content.
So far, manual measuring remains the best method, scientists say. Automated snow measurements introduce a degree of uncertainty such as how wind spreads snow unevenly across the landscape, explained Ben Pritchett, senior forecaster at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
“Nothing replaces observing snow in person to understand how it’s changing,” Pritchett said.
But Barr’s data collection has always been unpaid volunteer work — and that complicates any succession plan when he eventually leaves his home in Gothic.
“If environmental science were funded like the way we fund cancer research or other efforts, we would absolutely continue that research and data collection,” said Ian Billick, executive director for the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. “It would be super valuable.”
The lab has winter caretakers who could ski the half mile (.8 kilometer) to Barr’s home to manually measure new snow at the same site with his same method, but someone would still need to foot the bill for their time.
Barr is well aware that his humble weather station is just a snapshot of the Colorado River basin, and that satellites, lasers and computer models can now calculate how much snow falls basin-wide and predict resulting runoff. Yet local scientists say some of those models wouldn’t be as precise without his work.
Ian Breckheimer, an ecologist with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, measures snow from space using satellites. Given the distance, Breckheimer needed on-the-ground data to calibrate his model.
“Billy’s data provides that ground truth,” Breckheimer said. “We know that his data is right. So that means that we can compare all the things that we think we can see to the things that we know are right.”
Between measuring the snow and noting animal sightings, Barr created a body of work that no one asked him to assemble and that hasn’t brought him a dime.
Although it’s helped inspire scientists who work with the nearby mountainside lab, Barr said he started measuring snowfall out of a simple desire to relate to the world around him. He felt out of place in the city and choked by social expectations.
“I didn’t fit into anything and it doesn’t make me a miscreant,” he said. “You have to look for what will work for you. And sometimes that means trying different things and going different places.”
Just as he engineered a lifestyle that bucks societal norms, Barr hopes the high-tech water forecasting tools scientists have today will lead to unconventional solutions for rationing the dwindling resource.
“It could lead to things like, well, we really can’t have green lawns in the middle of Arizona anymore, because that’s not a good use of the limited water resource,” Barr said. “And water is more precious than gold.”
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The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Sheriff’s deputies have closed the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road at South Dexter Street in Centennial after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver Monday morning.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said the driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian remained on scene and is being cooperative. Traffic is being diverted on to South Dexter Street and the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road are expected to remain closed until at least 9 a.m.
It’s not clear from the sheriff’s office post on X what caused the collision but a photo that was posted on the social media platform shows a road that is partially covered by snow.
A snowstorm that hit the metro area Sunday night and into Monday morning led to multiple road closures in and around the area.
Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, but the air will have a winter-like chill.
It may look outside like it did on Saturday, when highs reached the upper 50s on a mild, pleasant day, but it’ll be much colder than that Sunday. A mass of cold, dry air has settled over Chicagoland, which will make 40 degrees a tough goal to reach on St. Patrick’s Day.
There’s also a chance for flurries or snow showers during the early part of the afternoon, as clouds will increase. Temperatures will again be in the high 30s on Monday before warming back up into the low 50s by Tuesday, the first day of spring.
Rain chances won’t likely increase until later in the week, around Thursday and Friday.
A potent storm is unleashing snarling snow, tornadoes and massive hail in the central U.S. Thursday for the second consecutive day.Tornado-warned thunderstorms were popping up in parts of the Plains and Ohio Valley at the same time heavy snow was bringing parts of Colorado to a standstill.Nearly 4 feet of snow fell from Wednesday to Thursday afternoon in the mountains west of Denver, and there were multiple reports of over half a foot of snow in the city.The snow prompted the closure of more than 50 miles of I-70 in Colorado and many schools, businesses and government offices in the state. More than 800 flights to or from Denver International Airport were canceled as of Thursday afternoon, according to FlightAware. More than 100,000 customers were without power as of Thursday afternoon, most of them in the Denver area, according to poweroutage.us.The same system fired up severe thunderstorms from Oklahoma and Kansas to Illinois Wednesday. Multiple tornadoes were reported in Kansas late Wednesday as storms tore across the state.At least one “large and extremely dangerous tornado” occurred near Volland, Kansas, Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service.Nearby severe thunderstorms produced hail the size of softballs and large enough to earn it the social-media moniker “gorilla hail” – an informal term popularized by storm chasers in recent years.Here’s what to expect through the end of the week.More than a month’s worth of snow for DenverHeavy snow will continue over Colorado through Thursday, before snowfall rates start to ease overnight.Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour hit the Boulder and Denver areas Thursday afternoon and will continue into the overnight hours.Denver could record the most snow in three years and more than a month’s worth of snow as 12 to 18 inches are possible from the multiday storm. Over 20 inches could pile up in the far western portion of the metro area, close to the Front Range foothills.Travel is expected to get more difficult Thursday outside the foothills as heavy snow falls through the evening. Travel in the foothills will remain nearly impossible the entire day.”Don’t travel into the foothills! If you do, be prepared to be stranded for an extended period of time,” the weather service said Thursday.Snow will slowly taper off in Colorado Friday, leaving the highest peaks buried under up to 4 feet of snow by storm’s end.Damaging winds, hail and tornadoes possibleTens of millions of people are at risk for severe thunderstorms on Thursday as the system tracks east and expands its reach across more than 1,000 miles of the US.Strong thunderstorms Thursday morning affected areas from Missouri through Illinois, and additional damaging storms roared to life Thursday afternoon in the Plains.An area from Texas to Ohio is under a Level 2 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms able to produce damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes.A higher Level 3 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms will center on parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. The risk for tornadoes will also be highest in this area, but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out in any area where severe thunderstorms develop Thursday.Hail as big as baseballs could also unload considerable damage in several states. Some of the strongest storms could potentially produce hailstones bigger than a softball or grapefruit.Parts of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma are at the greatest risk for incredibly dangerous hailstones, including Springfield, Missouri, and Little Rock, Arkansas. The same storms could also produce tornadoes and will likely be active Thursday night after dark, increasing the danger.Nighttime tornadoes are twice as likely to be deadly as those occurring during the day, a 2022 study found.The best way to stay safe during a nocturnal tornado threat is to have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your smartphone. Charge devices ahead of time and set phones or alarms on a loud volume so you’re not caught unaware.
A potent storm is unleashing snarling snow, tornadoes and massive hail in the central U.S. Thursday for the second consecutive day.
Tornado-warned thunderstorms were popping up in parts of the Plains and Ohio Valley at the same time heavy snow was bringing parts of Colorado to a standstill.
Nearly 4 feet of snow fell from Wednesday to Thursday afternoon in the mountains west of Denver, and there were multiple reports of over half a foot of snow in the city.
The snow prompted the closure of more than 50 miles of I-70 in Colorado and many schools, businesses and government offices in the state. More than 800 flights to or from Denver International Airport were canceled as of Thursday afternoon, according to FlightAware. More than 100,000 customers were without power as of Thursday afternoon, most of them in the Denver area, according to poweroutage.us.
The same system fired up severe thunderstorms from Oklahoma and Kansas to Illinois Wednesday. Multiple tornadoes were reported in Kansas late Wednesday as storms tore across the state.
At least one “large and extremely dangerous tornado” occurred near Volland, Kansas, Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Nearby severe thunderstorms produced hail the size of softballs and large enough to earn it the social-media moniker “gorilla hail” – an informal term popularized by storm chasers in recent years.
Here’s what to expect through the end of the week.
More than a month’s worth of snow for Denver
Heavy snow will continue over Colorado through Thursday, before snowfall rates start to ease overnight.
Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour hit the Boulder and Denver areas Thursday afternoon and will continue into the overnight hours.
Denver could record the most snow in three years and more than a month’s worth of snow as 12 to 18 inches are possible from the multiday storm. Over 20 inches could pile up in the far western portion of the metro area, close to the Front Range foothills.
Travel is expected to get more difficult Thursday outside the foothills as heavy snow falls through the evening. Travel in the foothills will remain nearly impossible the entire day.
“Don’t travel into the foothills! If you do, be prepared to be stranded for an extended period of time,” the weather service said Thursday.
Snow will slowly taper off in Colorado Friday, leaving the highest peaks buried under up to 4 feet of snow by storm’s end.
Damaging winds, hail and tornadoes possible
Tens of millions of people are at risk for severe thunderstorms on Thursday as the system tracks east and expands its reach across more than 1,000 miles of the US.
Strong thunderstorms Thursday morning affected areas from Missouri through Illinois, and additional damaging storms roared to life Thursday afternoon in the Plains.
An area from Texas to Ohio is under a Level 2 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms able to produce damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes.
A higher Level 3 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms will center on parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. The risk for tornadoes will also be highest in this area, but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out in any area where severe thunderstorms develop Thursday.
Hail as big as baseballs could also unload considerable damage in several states. Some of the strongest storms could potentially produce hailstones bigger than a softball or grapefruit.
Parts of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma are at the greatest risk for incredibly dangerous hailstones, including Springfield, Missouri, and Little Rock, Arkansas. The same storms could also produce tornadoes and will likely be active Thursday night after dark, increasing the danger.
The best way to stay safe during a nocturnal tornado threat is to have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your smartphone. Charge devices ahead of time and set phones or alarms on a loud volume so you’re not caught unaware.
Editor’s note: The Denverite staff, like most of the city, was snowed in Thursday.
As the inches piled up, I reached out to Kyle and Rebecca, from the warmth and comfort of my home office, and asked them to put on their boots, bundle up and head out to see how our neighbors in the city were faring.
After all, this seemed like a big deal, right? School closures, travel delays and other cancellations were announced left and right all day. Folks had to be freaking out, right?
Here’s what they heard from other Denverites. – Obed
Rebecca here. When we’re talking snow, it’s important to know that the only way in and out of my apartment is up two flights of steep, outdoor stairs. I have faced snow on the steps before, but when Obed told me I had to leave my apartment and cover the storm I found for the first time that the snow piled so high it turned my staircase into a slide.
So I did what every responsible adult would do: I put on my snowsuit, grabbed a cardboard box and tried to slide down what I am unofficially calling Denver’s steepest sledding hill.
It did not go well. I managed to avoid re-injuring any limbs, but I reached speeds only fit for ski slopes, used language not fit to print and earned myself some bruises.
Safely on the ground, I headed toward City Park to see how other Denverites were dealing with the snow.
Bryan Wiggins shoveled his whole block near City Park. March 14, 2024.Rebecca Tauber/Denverite
On Adams Street, Bryan Wiggins was out shoveling not just his house but the whole block.
“Not everyone is easily able to do it, and a lot of other places here are small apartment buildings, it’s no one person’s responsibility, so it ends up not happening,” he said after catching his breath. “So just kind of a public safety thing. That’s what I was primed to do today, is get out here and shovel snow.”
In City Park, Alexa Temme and Adam Illig were building a human-sized snow bear. Patience, they said, was the key to high-quality snowman building.
Alexa Temme and Adam Illig admire their work in City Park. March 14, 2024.Rebecca Tauber/Denverite
“The snow is perfect for making this incredible snow bear,” Temme said. “Getting the nose-rock in was quite a feat.”
Snow-shoeing along the lake were Katharine Brenton, Nicole Malow and their dog Poppy. Brenton and Malow grew up in Denver and went to Manual High School. They insisted that back in their day, weather like this would not have called for a snow day.
“I think Denver’s gone a little soft is what I’m trying to say,” Brenton said.
Katharine Brenton, Nicole Malow and Poppy snowshoe in City Park. March 14, 2024.Rebecca Tauber/Denverite
Across town, in Northeast Park Hill, Kyle took a trip to a liquor store.
Kyle here. Meanwhile, I had been cozied up in my basement typing away for most of the morning, while everybody else in my family enjoyed a snow day. I finally took a break and had just sunk my teeth into a gargantuan turkey club when Obed told me to go find out what people were doing.
I finished chewing, put on my long johns, my lumberjack shirt, my winter coat and boots and headed to the door.
My partner and my kid were making a snow volcano outside with a ball track that had malfunctioned and came in grumbling just as I was getting ready to go out. For a moment, I considered interviewing them, and then I thought, “I’m pretty sure Obed would think I’m lazy and I like my job,” so I walked past them into the vast empty slush-scape of Northeast Park Hill.
Just before the door closed, my partner warned me: “You might be overdressed.” I should have listened. I started walking through the slush. I was sweating before I made it to the end of the block.
Several blocks later, I realized nobody was out and about in my immediate vicinity, so I went where I have stumbled to on many blizzardy nights: Vinny’s Liquors.
Prince Gill mans the counter at Vinny’s Liquors in Northeast Park Hill. March 14, 2024.Kyle Harris/Denverite
I explained to the salesman, Prince Gill, that I was not just a longtime customer, I was also a journalist. I asked him how the snow was affecting business.
He said on Wednesday night, as the city shut down and newscasters warned Denverites about the coming snowstorm, the liquor store was packed with people. They bought cognac, brandy, Irish cream, whiskey and red wine.
“People like to stay warm,” Gill said. “They try to drink Irish liquor, like some Irish whiskey. They try to make those hot chocolates and stuff like that.”
On Thursday morning, Gill left the house early to get to work. He had a little trouble navigating side streets, but once he got to the highway, it was a straight shot.
With temperatures hovering just over freezing, snow still falling and the streets and sidewalks flooded with standing water, on Thursday afternoon, most regulars were staying home.
“I think most of the people called it a day off, and they’re just staying home, probably getting drunk,” he said.
Fontaine Swann stands outside in Northeast Park Hill on a cold day. March 14, 2024.Kyle Harris/Denverite
One man who was out and about was Fontaine Swann, who’s lived in Denver since the late 1970s.
He dropped by Vinny’s after a long day at work and was loving the snowy day.
“I remember when the first snow hit, it used to be around Halloween, it wouldn’t melt until April,” Swann said. “This here, it’s nothing.”
The biggest problem he sees with this snow is that there are a lot of drivers on the streets who don’t know what they’re doing and put everybody at risk.
“But this is beautiful,” he said. “It feels clean. It’s crisp and fresh. What can you complain about that? You’ve got to work? You work! So other than that, there ain’t nothing else to say bad.”
All the snow fear-mongering on the news was nothing more than an overblown hustle, as Swann saw it.
“Everybody’s like, ‘I’m going to get groceries next weekend,’” he said. Then the newscasters warn about the storm and make people panic, and they rush out to shop. “The grocery stores, they mark [prices] up. They know you’re on your way.”
Sure, his car was falling apart under the weight of the snow. And drivers weren’t exactly safe. But at the end of the day, he was just enjoying what nature threw at him.
“If you don’t like the weather in Colorado, leave,” Swann said. “It’ll change in five minutes anyway.”
Emilee Gendel and Sarah Daniels stand outside Northeast Park Hill’s Dandy Lion Coffee, which closed early due to a snow day. March 14, 2024.Kyle Harris/Denverite
I walked one door down, nearly impaling my head on a snowy branch, and planned to go into Dandy Lion Coffee for a lavender latte and interviews.
But I was too late.
Emilee Gendel and Sarah Daniels, workers at Dandy Lion Coffee, taped a sign to the door — “sorry, we closed early today! ❤️ love you, see you tomorrow” — bundled up, locked the building, and headed into the slush.
Daniels drove to work this morning from Reunion.
“It was a fine drive,” she said. “It was a slushy drive, but not bad.”
Gendel stomped through the slush from her house to Dandy Lion in the morning and was getting ready to stomp back through slightly deeper puddles.
Their day had been slow. The normally buzzing coffee shop and plant store had around 20 people crawl in all day long — the same amount that’s usually there at any given time.
The few people who showed, sipped coffee, read books, and chatted.
“I love being here today, in the snow,” Gendel said. “It’s just very cozy.”
“A cozy cafe,” said Daniels. “Yeah, you can’t ask for more than that.”
All the doomsday predictions about the weather rang false to the Dandy Lion crew. The main reason they closed early was that their regular customers were holed up at home.
As they looked at the weather, they were basically bored by what they saw. It was pretty, sure. But snowmageddon?
“It’s coming down, but it looks normal,” said Gendel. “I feel like the weather people were exaggerating once again.”
Northeast Park Hill’s Dandy Lion Coffee closed early due to a snow day. March 14, 2024.Kyle Harris/Denverite
Kyle’s been obsessing over Denver since he moved here from Chicago in 2005: What is this place? Who thrives here? Who’s pushed out? Who has room to create and fulfill their dreams? Whose dreams are squashed? And why? He’s the former culture editor at Westword, where he covered the city’s arts and music scene. Before that, he covered city and state politics as the managing editor at the Colorado Independent. He’s raced triathlons (slowly), grown food (well…with others), and toured the country in a folk-punk trio (apologetically). Now, he’s reporting about Denver’s growth and couldn’t be happier about it.
NORTH POWDER, Ore. (AP) — An avalanche forecaster died in a snowslide he triggered while skiing in eastern Oregon last week, officials said.
Nick Burks, 37, and a friend — both experienced and carrying avalanche air bags and beacons — were backcountry skiing the chute on Gunsight Mountain on Wednesday, near Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.
His friend skied down first and watched as the avalanche was triggered and overtook Burks. The companion was able to locate Burks quickly by turning on his transceiver, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office said.
People at the ski lodge saw the avalanche happen and immediately told first responders, the agency said in a statement on Facebook.
Bystanders were performing CPR on Burks as deputies, firefighters, and search and rescue crews arrived, but the efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, the sheriff’s office said. The other skier wasn’t hurt.
The Northwest Avalanche Center said via Facebook that Nick had been part of their professional avalanche community for years. He worked as an avalanche forecaster for the Wallowa Avalanche Center in northeastern Oregon, and before that as part of the snow safety team at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski and Summer Resort southeast of Portland.
Avalanche forecasters evaluate mountain snow conditions and other weather factors to try to predict avalanche risks. The job, avalanche safety specialists say, has become more difficult in as climate change brings extreme weather, and growing numbers of skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers visit backcountry areas since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our backcountry community is small and we understand the tremendous grief many are experiencing,” the Wallowa Avalanche Center said in a statement on their website, adding that a full investigation would be done with a report to follow.
Eleven people have been killed in avalanches in the U.S. this year, according to Avalanche.org.
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – As many people are celebrating springing ahead for more sunshine, snowbelt counties are digging out from another round of winter weather.
When snow is forecasted in March, you never really know what will accumulate. For example, downtown Cleveland received a light dusting that didn’t amount to much. But just to the east in Chagrin Falls residents easily saw more than four inches of snow come down.
While some may have used the snowfall as an excuse for a self-care Sunday, staying indoors and relaxing, others view the snow as a welcome sight.
“Enjoying the weather,” Randy Rohde said. “We haven’t had a lot of snow, so it’s always kind of fun to get out and jump in the snow a little bit. Dog loves the snow banks so, the weather’s not that bad. It’s not that cold.”
Rohde and his dog Bailey went for not one, but two long walks through the snow. Rhode said you can’t be mad about a little snow in March.
“You know, we live in Ohio and it’s March, so you never know what you’re going to get,” he said. “The great thing, and what I always tell my kids is that it can snow today, so tomorrow it’s going to be 50 and sunny so it won’t last long.”
Kathleen Miller and her daughter Mary Panetto also made a trip to the Chagrin Falls Waterfall. Miller said she did not fall for fools spring.
“I did not,” Miller said. “It has to snow three times on the daffodils.”
Miller said a little snow won’t stand in the way of a great Sunday.
“We actually came out to roller skate, but it was so busy at the rink that we instead walked around Chagrin Falls and got some food down the street,” Miller said. “And we’re having a great time.”
But not everything was picturesque for residents in the snowbelt. Many woke up to a tougher-than-expected commute with near white-out conditions in Geauga County.
Continued snowfall accumulations and high winds of up to 40 piles per hour created poor visibility for drivers. But nearly 300 ODOT snowplows were out working around the clock to get roads back to safe levels for drivers. Roads remained passable through the day.
ODOT Northeast Public Information Officer Amanda McFarland said this may not be the last round of snow.
“With this snow, we’re Northeast Ohioans, we know to expect snow probably through April. You know, that’s just how it works here.”
*The above video is of a heavy snow squall in Rocky River earlier this winter*
CLEVELAND (WJW) — Fox 8 meteorologists predict highs in the 60s this Tuesday after some parts of the area got several inches of snow Sunday.
But on this weekend in March of 2008, NE Ohio was digging out from 20 to 30 inches of snow.
The heavy snow really got going in the wee hours of Saturday morning March 8. Many businesses closed in downtown Cleveland and throughout the region.
Records from the NWS show heavy snow fell from Vermilion to Ashtabula County, to Summit County, and throughout the area.
Madison 28.5
Richfield 24.2
Broadview Heights 21.5
Vermilion 18.1
Wellington 16.0
Hopkins 15.0
Gusty winds caused high drifts and white out conditions.
“Heavy snow continued through Saturday afternoon with blizzard conditions at times, finally winding down from west to east during the evening hours,” The Cleveland NWS wrote on its website.
*Above photo: Snow-covered daffodil in Rocky River where 3 inches of snow fell Sunday morning March 10, 2024.
Here are some of the videos that viewers sent us during the strongest Sierra snowstorm of the season. The videos include areas near Lake Tahoe and other parts of Northern California.
(Video above: A look at heavy snowfall in Carnelian Bay on March 1.)
Yosemite National Park partly reopened on Sunday after a blizzard that brought as much as 45 inches of snow in some areas and high winds that toppled trees.
The park reopened around noon, with officials urging visitors to certain campsites: “Be prepared for winter camping (bring a shovel!).” Weather officials say the likelihood of another closure in the next week is low.
Although officials expected that 6 to 12 inches of snow could fall in Yosemite Valley — the most popular part of Yosemite National Park — the total turned out to be twice that, at about 25 inches, according to the National Weather Service office in Hanford.
Typically, with some of the more common storms that move through the area, Yosemite sees somewhere between 6 inches and, at the higher end, 18 inches of snow, according to meteorologist Carlos Molina, with the Hanford office.
“This actually was more like two times to almost four times what they would normally get with a more normal storm,” Molina said.
Toward the entrance of the park, 33 inches of snow fell, the meteorologist said. Toward the east entrance, Tuolumne Meadows received 45 inches of snow.
But the closure of the park, Molina said, had more to do with the high winds than the heavy snowfall. Winds hit between 50 and 60 mph during the storm, and visibility “was maybe 10 to 100 feet.”
“A 50- to 60-mile-an-hour wind was actually strong enough to knock down some of the dead trees that Yosemite has right now,” Molina said. “The public was kept out because, as the storm was moving through … they didn’t want anyone in the park to get hurt.”
Although weather officials are expecting clearer conditions on Monday, they are also anticipating more precipitation on Tuesday.
From 3 to 6 inches of additional snow is expected that day.
“It’s going to be the more typical, the more normal, storm that’s going to be passing through Yosemite,” Molina said. “Definitely less than what this storm produced.”
Another storm is forecast to arrive in California closer to Wednesday, Molina said, but that one may affect Southern California more than the northern or central parts of the state.
Clear conditions are expected by Thursday and Friday. Molina said the likelihood of the park closing again “is very low.”
The Ahwahnee on Sunday posted on Facebook that the partial reopening of the park included the historic hotel and “all lodging, dining and retail locations throughout Yosemite Valley.”
Hotel officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Visitors to Yosemite should enter the park via Highway 41/Wawona Road and Highway 140/El Portal Road. Officials said to expect snowy conditions.
Depending on the weather conditions, Big Oak Flat Road, Badger Pass Road and ski area, and Hetch Hetchy Road will reopen on Monday at noon, Yosemite National Park posted on Facebook, along with the Hodgdon Meadow Campground.
Now that snow has begun in the Sierra on Thursday, it won’t let up anytime soon.Our KCRA 3 weather team is calling Friday and Saturday Alert Days, specifically in the Sierra, because of hazardous conditions that include several feet of snow, strong winds and travel impacts. You should not drive to the Sierra if you do not have to.Thursday through Sunday are Impact Days in the Sacramento Valley because of rain. Flooding is not expected, but there may be some ponding on certain roadways.Related ContentForecast timeline for Sierra snow, Valley rainWhat does a blizzard warning for the Sierra actually mean?Track Doppler radar for California snowstorm, traffic mapsBelow, you can find live updates on snow impacts.10:15 p.m.: Traffic was temporarily delayed on I-80 as crews responded to reports of a traffic collision on the Central Truckee offramp, according to California Highway Patrol online logs. No injuries were reported. 8 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Carolina Estrada with a view of snowfall in Nyack. 7:40 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Lee Anne Denyer is between Twin Bridges and Meyers on Highway 50, where chain control is still in effect. 6:15 p.m.: A semi-truck was rear-ended as at least one passenger was putting chains on the wheels on the eastbound I-80 near Cisco Road onramp. 6 p.m.: A blanket of snow hit Meyers along Highway 50. KCRA 3’s Maricela De La Cruz was there to describe the sudden change in conditions. 4 p.m.: Chain controls are in place along I-80 in the Sierra. KCRA 3’s Deneeka Hill is in Kingsvale and says some drivers are losing their chains while traveling up the road. 3:45 p.m.: Yosemite National Park says it will be closed from midnight all the way through Sunday at noon if not later due to the storm. Anyone visiting the park is being asked to leave as soon as possible and no late than Friday at noon. 1:35 p.m.: Snow is now visible along Highway 50.12:30 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Maricela De La Cruz was at Sierra-at-Tahoe, which decided to also close today along with closing Friday.Ski lifts were not moving and some people could be seen leaving. The resort’s general manager told KCRA 3 that he would play opening and closing by ear each day based on conditions.12 p.m.: Watch our weather coverage from the 12 p.m. newscast below.11:39 a.m.: Eastbound Interstate 80 at Donner Summit has reopened hours after a big rig overturned and blocked lanes.11:25 a.m.: These are chain controls as of this writing, according to Caltrans.Interstate 80Eastbound — Chains are required for all four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all wheels from Kingvale in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County.I-80 in this direction is closed to all big rigs due to an overturned big rig at Donner Summit blocking lanes. Caltrans recommends drivers choose an alternate route.Westbound — Chains are required for all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from Kingvale to roughly five miles west of Kingvale.Trucks are being screened five miles west of Reno at Mogul. Drivers must have chains in their possession to proceed.Highway 50No traffic restrictions at this time.10:58 a.m.: The California Department of Water Resources announced the findings of its third Phillips Station snow survey of the season.9:30 a.m.: KCRA 3’s Melanie Wingo was at the Foothills along Highway 50, where people stocked up on supplies ahead of the snowstorm.8:40 a.m.: Sierra-at-Tahoe plans to either stay open or closed depending on snow conditions. General Manager John Rice talked about his plans for the safety of guests and staff.7:36 a.m.: An overturned big rig has eastbound Interstate 80 shut down. Officials said speed was a factor, and chain controls were not in effect at the time. The estimated time of reopening is 1:15 p.m.6:30 a.m.: The California Department of Water Resources is doing its third snow survey Thursday morning, a day early because of hazardous snowy conditions forecast on Friday.Get California storm-readyDownload our app for the latest breaking news and weather alertsTrack live California Doppler radarSee our live traffic mapSend us your weather videos and photosBe prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here. This will also show chain control information.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterWatch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
TWIN BRIDGES, Calif. —
Now that snow has begun in the Sierra on Thursday, it won’t let up anytime soon.
Our KCRA 3 weather team is calling Friday and Saturday Alert Days, specifically in the Sierra, because of hazardous conditions that include several feet of snow, strong winds and travel impacts. You should not drive to the Sierra if you do not have to.
Thursday through Sunday are Impact Days in the Sacramento Valley because of rain. Flooding is not expected, but there may be some ponding on certain roadways.
Related Content
Below, you can find live updates on snow impacts.
10:15 p.m.: Traffic was temporarily delayed on I-80 as crews responded to reports of a traffic collision on the Central Truckee offramp, according to California Highway Patrol online logs. No injuries were reported.
8 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Carolina Estrada with a view of snowfall in Nyack.
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7:40 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Lee Anne Denyer is between Twin Bridges and Meyers on Highway 50, where chain control is still in effect.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
6:15 p.m.: A semi-truck was rear-ended as at least one passenger was putting chains on the wheels on the eastbound I-80 near Cisco Road onramp.
6 p.m.: A blanket of snow hit Meyers along Highway 50. KCRA 3’s Maricela De La Cruz was there to describe the sudden change in conditions.
4 p.m.: Chain controls are in place along I-80 in the Sierra. KCRA 3’s Deneeka Hill is in Kingsvale and says some drivers are losing their chains while traveling up the road.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
3:45 p.m.: Yosemite National Park says it will be closed from midnight all the way through Sunday at noon if not later due to the storm.
Anyone visiting the park is being asked to leave as soon as possible and no late than Friday at noon.
1:35 p.m.: Snow is now visible along Highway 50.
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12:30 p.m.: KCRA 3’s Maricela De La Cruz was at Sierra-at-Tahoe, which decided to also close today along with closing Friday.
Ski lifts were not moving and some people could be seen leaving. The resort’s general manager told KCRA 3 that he would play opening and closing by ear each day based on conditions.
12 p.m.: Watch our weather coverage from the 12 p.m. newscast below.
11:39 a.m.: Eastbound Interstate 80 at Donner Summit has reopened hours after a big rig overturned and blocked lanes.
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#TrafficAlert EB I-80 is open and traffic has been released at Drum Forebay, Applegate and SR-20. Chain controls (R2) EB & WB Nyack to Truckee, Trucks Max.
Avoid travel if possible and please take it slow. Speed limit along I-80 is 30mph during chain control. pic.twitter.com/Q7VbPeBVBW
11:25 a.m.: These are chain controls as of this writing, according to Caltrans.
Interstate 80
Eastbound — Chains are required for all four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all wheels from Kingvale in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County.
I-80 in this direction is closed to all big rigs due to an overturned big rig at Donner Summit blocking lanes. Caltrans recommends drivers choose an alternate route.
Westbound — Chains are required for all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from Kingvale to roughly five miles west of Kingvale.
Trucks are being screened five miles west of Reno at Mogul. Drivers must have chains in their possession to proceed.
Highway 50
No traffic restrictions at this time.
10:58 a.m.: The California Department of Water Resources announced the findings of its third Phillips Station snow survey of the season.
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9:30 a.m.: KCRA 3’s Melanie Wingo was at the Foothills along Highway 50, where people stocked up on supplies ahead of the snowstorm.
8:40 a.m.: Sierra-at-Tahoe plans to either stay open or closed depending on snow conditions. General Manager John Rice talked about his plans for the safety of guests and staff.
7:36 a.m.: An overturned big rig has eastbound Interstate 80 shut down. Officials said speed was a factor, and chain controls were not in effect at the time. The estimated time of reopening is 1:15 p.m.
6:30 a.m.: The California Department of Water Resources is doing its third snow survey Thursday morning, a day early because of hazardous snowy conditions forecast on Friday.
A powerful storm taking aim at California starting Thursday could bring the strongest blizzard of the winter for the Sierra Nevada, potentially dumping 5 to 12 feet of snow at elevations 5,000 feet above sea level.
“Even by Sierra standards, this is shaping up to be a highly impactful, major winter storm,” the National Weather Service office in Reno said. “If these snow totals hold, this will easily be the biggest storm of the season.”
That includes the possibility of 1 to 3 feet of snow for communities along Highway 395 in Mono County, with Mammoth Lakes and June Lakes potentially getting nearly 4 feet of snow. There’s a strong chance of 4 feet of snow along the Sierra crest around the Tahoe Basin, and more than 3 feet in places like South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village and Tahoe City, forecasters said.
Winds on the ridge tops of California’s mightiest mountain range “could easily exceed 120 mph,” and “could lead to blizzard conditions with near-zero visibility at times.”
Forecasters urged people to take advantage of calm weather through Wednesday to prepare ahead of the incoming storm. They warned travel is expected to be nearly impossible from about 4 a.m. Thursday through Sunday morning. “If you attempt to travel, be prepared for whiteout conditions & extended road closures. Bring extra food, water, & warm clothing,” the National Weather Service office in Sacramento posted on social media.
Yosemite Valley could see snow showers on Saturday, the weather service office in Hanford said. “Snow may be heavy at times.”
For Los Angeles County, the storm is expected to bring a slight chance of rain late Friday, becoming likely on Saturday and possibly lasting through Sunday morning.
That storm could bring 0.75 to 1.5 inches of rain to the coast and valleys, and 1 to 3 inches in the mountains. But there’s also the possibly of a more dry scenario, with as little as 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain in the coast and valleys, and 0.5 to 1 inch of rain in the mountains.
The weekend storm will be a cold one for L.A. County; there could be a dusting of snow in some areas at elevations below 3,000 feet. “This will likely be the coldest air mass we’ve had in some time with frost/freeze concerns possible for sheltered valleys Sunday and possibly a bit more widespread into Monday morning,” the weather service office in Oxnard said.
Rain could return to the San Francisco Bay Area starting late Thursday and continue through Saturday.
“Overall it’s just going to be nasty outside with cold temperatures, gusty wind and periods of moderate rain,” the National Weather Service office in Monterey said. “That being said, the actual impacts look mostly minor with wind gusts in the 25-35 mph range and only a moderate amount of rainfall, spread out over a few days.”
Winds could be a problem in the Sacramento Valley. Forecasters warned of winds gusting from 35 to 55 mph that could trigger power outages, especially from Marysville in Yuba County and northward.
