0
0
Unimaginable snowstorms attacked the USA. Up to 3 meters of snow will fall
, 11:58, 03.03.2024
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
California faces a major snowstorm with up to 3 meters of snowfall expected in the mountains, causing power outages, road closures, and travel disruptions for millions. The storm is expected to peak.
Dangerous winter storm in the US
Up to three meters of snow is expected to fall in the mountains of Northern California. Many roads and streets are closed, and some power lines have been downed. Strong hurricane-force winds are blowing in places, which will make travel difficult over the weekend. At least 15,000 people are without power.
The snowstorm began to move into the southern US state on Thursday, and is expected to culminate over the weekend. Some major highways have been closed since Friday afternoon. Severe weather warnings have been issued for a 300-mile (nearly 500-kilometer) mountain range, covering nearly 20 million people.
Dangerous winter storm in the US
Forecasters predict that up to three meters of snow could fall in the mountains around Lake Tahoe this weekend, with nearly two meters in towns around the lake and over 30 centimeters in towns directly on the lake's shores.
Winds are expected to gust up to 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) over the Sierra ridges and 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) in the lower elevations.
"Extreme snowfall and strong winds will cause long-lasting snowdrifts in much of the Sierra Mountains. Travel will become impossible," the National Weather Service said in a statement. In some places, visibility has dropped to near zero.
National passenger railroad service Amtrak has canceled its Chicago-San Francisco service because it passes through the mountain town of Truckee, California, which is under a snowstorm warning until Sunday morning.
PowerOutage.us, a website that tracks power outages, reports that more than 14,000 people are already without power. That number could increase sharply. Local authorities have also closed Yosemite National Park.
As CNN points out, the only benefit of the snowstorm will be the opportunity to replenish the state's water supply. Snow cover in some areas is already at 80% of March levels and could increase. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, millions of people in the western states rely on melting snowpack in warmer months for hydropower, irrigation, and drinking water.
