It might not be quite time to pull out the skis and parkas, but California could see snow in August for the first time in 20 years in the coming days.
An unseasonably cold storm is expected to hit the state later this week and if the timing is right, that could bring a dusting of snow to the Sierra Mountains on Friday and Saturday. Accumulations are expected to be limited and will not last.
Snow typically doesn’t arrive in California until October. This year, though, the atmospheric energy from a Typhoon that passed by Tokyo five days ago has been absorbed into the Pacific jet stream. That’s causing an oceanic storm, which will bring cooler temperatures and the snow possibility to California. Some temperatures in the state will fall as much as 15 degrees below their average for this time of year.
A dusting of snow is possible above 8,000 feet on Friday evening until Sunday morning in the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada. The best chances are in the high country in Yosemite NP with a 30-50% chance for 0.1 inches of snow and a 20-40% chance of 0.5 inches. #CAwxpic.twitter.com/KwxcDlP7Bb
— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) August 21, 2024
Some areas could see more than half an inch, the National Weather Service said. Roads could become slippery; visibility could be reduced; and campers and hikers, especially in Yosemite National Park’s high country, should be prepared for winter-like conditions, said forecasters.
The snow, should it fall, won’t last. By next week, above-normal temperatures are expected to return to the state.
California’s not the only state seeing snow earlier than expected. On July 14 of this year, Philadelphia International Airport received a record amount of snow, despite it being 94 degrees. The (very) mini blizzard occurred when a thunderstorm blew through town, producing small hail. In meteorological terms, that counts as a trace of snow—and a trace was enough to set a record.
It has, on the whole, been kind of a weird summer meteorologically speaking, with often dangerously hot temperatures. The CDC has even set up a tool to warn people about the dangers of approaching heat waves. The HeatRisk map lets people easily see their risk for health issues, which can be especially useful for elderly citizens or those who have conditions such as asthma. It’s also useful for pregnant women and young children.
The heat has been blamed on climate change, with scientists saying Earth is four years away from crossing the 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) target set in the landmark Paris climate accord of 2015.