Californians are finally experiencing a White Christmas, with snowfall pouring down on the mountains.
However, California’s other areas experienced a rainy and wet Christmas. The state was still being drenched by storms, which caused flash flooding and forced evacuations.
Officials at the University of California Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory wondered via Twitter if the recent snowfall could have broken the 1970 record of 179 inches (4.6 meters) for the snowiest December.
According to The Mercury News, at least 119 inches (3 m) have been recorded so far this month. More are expected in the next 72 hours.
The Sierra snowpack was at dangerously low levels following recent dry weeks. However, the state Department of Water Resources reported that the snowpack was between 114% to 137% of normal across all ranges. There was more snow expected.
Crews are currently working in the San Bernardino National Forest on a $4.2million emergency project to repair a section State Route 18 that washed down a hillside after heavy rains late Thursday, according The San Bernardino Sun.
According to the newspaper, the road is a major route to Big Bear Lake. The closure near Panorama Point could take several days or weeks.
According to the National Weather Service, Los Angeles is likely to experience rain and mountain snow over the next week. The temperatures will be significantly lower through the middle part of the week.
San Diego will see scattered showers. Heavy snow is likely to fall in the San Bernardino Mountains and Riverside County mountains. Precipitation could continue into Thursday.
According to the weather service: Rain showers are forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area through Monday, before temperatures drop and dry conditions set in by the middle next week.
The storms that could sweep the West and drop rain and snow across most of the region by next week and plunge the Pacific Northwest in a long cold snap follow an atmospheric river which delivered abundant amounts of precipitation earlier this year.
Nevada saw snow and rain records broken, and Oregon officials declared an emergency to prevent the onset of freezing temperatures, snow and/or ice.
Recent forecasts indicate that at least one inch of snow will fall in Seattle and Portland on Sunday, which aren’t used to seeing snow very often.
Forecasters and state officials agree that the main concern is the cold temperatures in the region. Daytime highs next week will struggle to exceed freezing. This will impact those experiencing homelessness or without access to heating.
(This story was not edited by Devdiscourse staff. It is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.