Last Thursday, thick snowflakes covered a portion of Northern California as a much-welcomed summer snowstorm hit the Tioga Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains, precisely one week after the snowpack on the mountain range had officially disappeared.
The Sierra Nevada snowpack is one of the most critical sources of surface water for California cities and farms, especially during the Golden State’s fourth year of an historic drought.
A video posted to the Mono County Tourism Facebook page captured the thick snow flakes as they covered the grassy areas of the region. The warmer temperatures prevented the snow from sticking to the highways.
“It’s snowing on Tioga Pass right now!!!! California snow – July 9, 2015 at 7:57am about a mile from the east entrance of Yosemite National Park!” the Facebook post said.
CalTrans in the district also posted pictures and video of the event to its Twitter account, and issued warnings for flash flooding as a result of the rain and hail storms from the wet weather:
Motorists are advised to reduce speed and use caution on US395 at Coso Junction, Due to Flooding across the roadway. pic.twitter.com/FO5IaFVa1B
— Caltrans District 9 (@Caltrans9) July 9, 2015
Here is the latest photos from our crew up on SR108 Sonora Pass, still snowing but it’s seems to be slowing down now. pic.twitter.com/4yY2V5ZkaS
— Caltrans District 9 (@Caltrans9) July 9, 2015
State Highways 120 and 182 closed for several hours on Wednesday due to the snow.
Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz and on Facebook
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