California sees ‘winter wonderland’ in summer for first time in 20 years

This summer, Californians have had to endure blistering heatwaves, raging wildfires – and now snow.

An unusually strong and rare snow system dusted California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range early on Saturday, the first time snow has fallen in August in the so-called Golden state in more than 20 years.

The Madera county deputy sheriff, Larry Rich, said it was “definitely unexpected” to see snow at Minaret Vista, a lookout point south-east of Yosemite national park in the Sierra Nevada, in August.

“It’s not every day you get to spend your birthday surrounded by a winter wonderland in the middle of summer,” Rich said in a statement. “It made for a day I won’t soon forget, and a unique reminder of why I love serving in this area. It’s just one of those moments that makes working up here so special.”

The Madera county sheriff’s office posted video to their Facebook page showing the rare summertime snowfall and warning visitors to stay safe. “If you’re planning to visit, please drive carefully and be prepared for the chilly weather,” the post read.

Yosemite has not seen August snow for at least 20 years, the National Weather Service said.

Snow fell at Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe ski resorts as officials at Mammoth posted on social media, “This morning was chill. Take a look at the dusting of new snow on the mid and upper-mountain.”

About 3in fell in Lassen Volcanic national park, according to the weather service. But most areas just got a dusting with summertime temperatures returning 24 hours later.

The rare summer snowstorm nonetheless caused a record amount of rainfall in Redding, Red Bluff and Stockton in northern California on Saturday, the weather service said.

The “anomalous cool conditions” spread over much of the western US through Sunday morning, according to the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

Despite the predicted precipitation, forecasters also warned of fire danger because of gusty winds associated with the passage of the cold front.

At the same time, a flash flood watch was issued for the burn scar of California’s largest wildfire so far this year from Friday morning through Saturday morning.

The Park fire roared across more than 420,000 acres and four counties after it erupted in late July near the northern California city of Chico then climbed up the western slope of the Sierra.

The fire became California’s fourth-largest on record. But it has been substantially tamed recently with California’s forestry and fire department reporting a 78% containment. Islands of vegetation continue to burn within its existing perimeter, though evacuation orders have been canceled.