A rare August snow spell can strike California this month for the first time in 20 years, which has urged the National Weather Service (NWS) to warn citizens about the possible difficulties like road closures that these spells can bring along.
The snow spells can give Californians a much-needed respite from the ongoing hot weather that grappled the state this summer and posed significant health threats to the public. However, it also poses some threats to drivers who will find themselves in uncharted territories in the future.
According to the NWS, some regions like Yosemite National Park and Tioga Road in the Sierra Nevada mountains are more likely to see snow at the end of August, and the probability of .1 inches of snow accumulation on roads remains high, while 0.5 inches of snow accumulation is also possible on some roads.
The NWS Hanford office suggested that even though this is a small amount of snow, drivers and hikers should take extra precautions to deal with this.
The weather service also advised motorists that snow accumulation on roads can “greatly” reduce visibility, which is a danger in itself. The message further warned hikers and campers to change their plans or prepare themselves for “winter-like conditions” at extreme altitudes.
Tioga Road remains the most vulnerable place to receive the rare August snowfall, which is worrying meteorologists. Dan Harty, the NWS meteorologist, said that Tioga Road remains closed after the first major snowfall of winter, which means that drivers may struggle during off-season snow.
The NWS forecast has already started to impact Californians who saw almost 3 inches of snow on the weekend, with portions of Highway 89 getting closed for safety purposes. Larry Rich, the Deputy Sheriff of Madera County, stated that the “definitely unexpected” snow made his birthday special. Rich further noted that such unforgettable moments make California a different and attractive place for public service.
The unexpected snow spray makes the outgoing summer extremely rare, as the state saw wildfires, extreme heat waves, and now, the snow spells all in a single season.
Californians have had to face the chronic heat waves in recent months, with temperatures going nearly 15 degrees above the usual average at times. Mercury jumped up to as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit in some places, which prompted Californian Governor Gavin Newsom to advise people to exercise caution.
The extreme weather conditions also resulted in an increase in wildfires, without reports estimating that the wildfire losses this year have exceeded more than 20 times the losses reported at the same time last year.
