In this webcam image provided by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is the snow covered Squaw Valley High Camp Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Olympic Valley, Calif. Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, but California is heading toward the holiday with rainy, windy and snowy weather. The Squaw Valley resort at Lake Tahoe reports it got 32 inches of snow over the past seven days, boosting its season total to 714 inches. Unsettled weather will continue into next week. (Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows via AP)
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thunderstorms embedded with lightning and hail moved across Southern California on Wednesday as winter-like weather persisted through late spring in many parts of the state.
The unusual conditions caused by low-pressure systems dropping out of Canada were expected to continue into the Memorial Day weekend, potentially impacting traditional outdoor activities.
The unusually cold weather in California comes as other parts of the West were hit by late spring storms. A storm dumped heavy, wet snow in Colorado and Wyoming, cancelling flights and snapping newly greened up tree limbs. In Arizona, where 100 degree (37.75 Celsius) temperatures are not uncommon in May, some areas in the northern part of the state saw snow this week.
A winter weather advisory was in effect east of Los Angeles in the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, where recreational areas are normally gearing up for summer by this time of year.
There could be up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow at elevations from 5,500 to 7,500 feet (1,676 to 2,286 meters) and up to 8 inches (20.3 centimeters) at higher elevations, the National Weather Service said.
Caltrans urged motorists to bring chains and warm clothes if they headed up into the mountains.
To the north, the Sierra Nevada was finally free of winter weather advisories after a hefty boost to an already heavy snowpack.
The Squaw Valley resort at Lake Tahoe reported Wednesday morning it had received 32 inches (81.2 centimeters) of snow over seven days, boosting its season total to 714 inches (1,813.5 centimeters).
Southeast of Yosemite National Park, snow showers added to a similar total atop Mammoth Mountain. Winds initially limited operations, but they died down enough to allow more lifts to serve skiers seeking fresh powder.
"May just won't stop delivering snow," the resort said on its website. Mammoth had already had so much snow by February it announced plans to stay open to skiing and boarding through the Fourth of July.
The coast and offshore waters also resembled winter. High surf and small craft advisories were posted along the state's shoreline, with gale warnings for the waters farther out.
In this webcam image provided by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, snow is on the ground at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort base area Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Olympic Valley, Calif. Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, but California is heading toward the holiday with rainy, windy and snowy weather. The Squaw Valley resort at Lake Tahoe reports it got 32 inches of snow over the past seven days, boosting its season total to 714 inches. Unsettled weather will continue into next week. (Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows via AP)
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In this Tuesday, May 21, 2019, photo provided by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, is a snow covered chair lift at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, Calif. Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, but California is heading toward the holiday with rainy, windy and snowy weather. The Squaw Valley resort at Lake Tahoe reports it got 32 inches of snow over the past seven days, boosting its season total to 714 inches. Unsettled weather will continue into next week. (Ben Arnst/Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows via AP)
The Associated Press
This Monday, May 20, 2019 photo provided by Miles Clark shows him doing a backflip on a run at Squaw Valley Ski Resort, Calif., after a late spring storm blanketed the area with snow. Much of the West is experiencing weird weather. Large swaths of California have seen two to five times more precipitation than is normal for this point in May, the National Weather Service said. (Aaron Fox/Miles Clark via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Tuesday, May 21, 2019, photo provided by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, is the snow covered Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, Calif. Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, but California is heading toward the holiday with rainy, windy and snowy weather. The Squaw Valley resort at Lake Tahoe reports it got 32 inches of snow over the past seven days, boosting its season total to 714 inches. Unsettled weather will continue into next week. (Ben Arnst/Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows via AP)
The Associated Press
This May 17, 2019 photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain ski area shows a snow boarder making his way downhill in fresh snow at Mammoth Mountain ski area. Late spring wintry weather has brought rain, wind and snow to California, including a dusting of white on mountain peaks east of Los Angeles. (Peter Morning/Mammoth Mountain ski area via AP)
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This May 17, 2019 photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain ski area shows a snowboarder making his way downhill in fresh snow at Mammoth Mountain ski area. Late spring wintry weather has brought rain, wind and snow to California, including a dusting of white on mountain peaks east of Los Angeles.(Peter Morning/Mammoth Mountain ski area via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Heavenly Ski Resort, snow covers the surroundings of the resort Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, but California is heading toward the holiday with rainy, windy and snowy weather. (Heavenly Ski Resort via AP)
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