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A powerful late-season Spring Storm system swept across California over the weekend, unleashing a barrage of heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The National Weather Service reported that several ski resorts in the region experienced their snowiest May day on record, with accumulations exceeding three feet in some areas.
The unexpected winter-like conditions were the result of a moisture-laden atmospheric river that tapped into a plume of cold air from the Gulf of Alaska. Meteorologists had anticipated a vigorous Spring Storm, but the intensity and localized nature of the snowfall caught many by surprise.
At Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, located in the eastern Sierra Nevada, a staggering 49 inches of fresh powder fell in just 24 hours, shattering the previous May record of 38 inches set in 1967.
It was an absolute whiteout up here,
exclaimed resort spokeswoman Lauren Burke.
We haven’t seen conditions like this in May for as long as anyone can remember.
Nearby Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows reported a whopping 48 inches at its upper elevations, while Kirkwood Mountain Resort recorded an impressive 42 inches.
It was an epic powder day for sure,
said longtime Kirkwood ski instructor Mike Daniels.
The snow was light and fluffy, and the runs were virtually untracked all day.
While the late-season bounty was welcomed by skiers and snowboarders, it also created hazardous travel conditions throughout the Sierra. Major highways, including Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, were temporarily closed due to whiteout conditions and spin-outs. The California Department of Transportation urged motorists to avoid non-essential travel and equip their vehicles with chains or snow tires.
This Spring Storm really packed a punch,
said NWS meteorologist Cory Mueller.
The combination of heavy precipitation rates and relatively cold temperatures allowed for incredible snowfall accumulations, even at lower elevations.
Beyond the ski resorts, the Sierra snowpack received a much-needed boost from the late-season Spring Storm.
According to the California Department of Water Resources, the statewide snowpack stood at 157% of normal as of May 1st. However, with an exceptionally dry start to the water year, overall water supply conditions remain below average across much of the state.
Climate scientists caution that while individual heavy snowSpring Storms are anticipated to become more frequent as the planet warms, the overall trend points toward diminishing snowpacks in the western United States.
We may see more of these intense, atmospheric river-fueled events in the future,
explained Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA.
But over the long run, the Sierra Nevada is expected to experience shorter snow seasons and lower peak snowpack levels.
As the cleanup from the potent Spring Storm continues, ski resorts across the Sierra are reveling in the unexpected late-season gift. Many have announced plans to extend their operating seasons, much to the delight of powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders.
It’s like getting a second winter,
said Daniels.
We’ll take all the bonus days we can get.
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