Southern California Snow - December 17. 2009
This is about the recent winter storm that blasted through Southern California on Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
What a storm it was! Record snowfall fell across all of SoCal and southern Nevada. First to mention, Las Vegas had it's heaviest snowfall since records began there in the 1930's. They had up to 9" in some areas of the valley and it was the second snowfall to occur that week. On Monday the 15th 3" of snow fell in some of the outlying suburbs. It was truly a remarkable week for Las Vegas.
Next, the Mojave Desert of SoCal was blasted with the heaviest snowfall in 24 years, and covered the greatest amount area in just as long of a time. Snow fell from an area as large as from Palmdale to Joshua Tree NP, north to Newberry Springs and northwest to Red Rock Canyon. Only a small gap from Newberry Springs to Baker was snowless and then Baker to Las Vegas was solid white. As much as 2 feet accumulated in many areas above the 3000 foot level.
On the west side of the mountains, snow levels ranged between 1000 and 1500 feet. The lowest snow levels were in the Temescal Valley area on the north side of the Santa Ana Mtns between Corona and Lake Elsinore, where snow fell down to the valley floor along I-15 between Indian Truck Trail and Lake Ave, an elevation of 1200 feet. Snow depths ranged from near 1 inch to almost 3 inches at some higher neighborhood locations. Heavy snow began falling steadily around 3pm at the 1800 foot level of Horsethief Canyon Ranch, and during the next 2 hrs the snow level lowered to the valley floor where steady snow began falling there around 5pm. By 10pm the snow had finally stopped. At my home, I received nearly an inch. Enough to make my very first snowman on my own property. Not somewhere else I had to drive to ;-)
The system responsible for this incredible event was a deep cold arctic low that had originated in Alberta, Canada. It retrograded westward and parked itself near Seattle for several days drawing in deep cold arctic air into its core. Its position just off the coast a bit enabled the cold air to mix with moist Pacific air. As the low begain migrating due south along the west coast it continued drawing in arctic air from the NE. Fully saturated with deep moisture it proceeded to unleash its energy on SoCal before ejecting into the Great Basin on Thursday.
It has been 4 days and incredibly snow is still in patches in shady areas at the 1700 foot level. The north facing slopes of the Santa Ana Mtns are still white with deep unmelted snow, and the view is as spectacular as anywhere I have seen in the Sierras and the Rockies.
I truly believe that there are a lot of incredible, yet simple things that some people don't take the time to stop and enjoy. Even if it is for a moment. Well, I am one of those that do, and this is one of those moments. ;-)
Some pictures:
-W
What a storm it was! Record snowfall fell across all of SoCal and southern Nevada. First to mention, Las Vegas had it's heaviest snowfall since records began there in the 1930's. They had up to 9" in some areas of the valley and it was the second snowfall to occur that week. On Monday the 15th 3" of snow fell in some of the outlying suburbs. It was truly a remarkable week for Las Vegas.
Next, the Mojave Desert of SoCal was blasted with the heaviest snowfall in 24 years, and covered the greatest amount area in just as long of a time. Snow fell from an area as large as from Palmdale to Joshua Tree NP, north to Newberry Springs and northwest to Red Rock Canyon. Only a small gap from Newberry Springs to Baker was snowless and then Baker to Las Vegas was solid white. As much as 2 feet accumulated in many areas above the 3000 foot level.
On the west side of the mountains, snow levels ranged between 1000 and 1500 feet. The lowest snow levels were in the Temescal Valley area on the north side of the Santa Ana Mtns between Corona and Lake Elsinore, where snow fell down to the valley floor along I-15 between Indian Truck Trail and Lake Ave, an elevation of 1200 feet. Snow depths ranged from near 1 inch to almost 3 inches at some higher neighborhood locations. Heavy snow began falling steadily around 3pm at the 1800 foot level of Horsethief Canyon Ranch, and during the next 2 hrs the snow level lowered to the valley floor where steady snow began falling there around 5pm. By 10pm the snow had finally stopped. At my home, I received nearly an inch. Enough to make my very first snowman on my own property. Not somewhere else I had to drive to ;-)
The system responsible for this incredible event was a deep cold arctic low that had originated in Alberta, Canada. It retrograded westward and parked itself near Seattle for several days drawing in deep cold arctic air into its core. Its position just off the coast a bit enabled the cold air to mix with moist Pacific air. As the low begain migrating due south along the west coast it continued drawing in arctic air from the NE. Fully saturated with deep moisture it proceeded to unleash its energy on SoCal before ejecting into the Great Basin on Thursday.
It has been 4 days and incredibly snow is still in patches in shady areas at the 1700 foot level. The north facing slopes of the Santa Ana Mtns are still white with deep unmelted snow, and the view is as spectacular as anywhere I have seen in the Sierras and the Rockies.
I truly believe that there are a lot of incredible, yet simple things that some people don't take the time to stop and enjoy. Even if it is for a moment. Well, I am one of those that do, and this is one of those moments. ;-)
Some pictures:
-W
posted by Will Wilkens at
5:45 PM
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