Whiteout conditions and powerful winds wreaked havoc across the western United States, leading to a series of catastrophic events from Oregon to Southern California. On Interstate 84 near Multnomah Falls, Oregon, a blinding snowstorm caused a massive pileup involving up to 30 cars, trucks, and semi-trucks. Meanwhile, in California, more than 21,000 homes and businesses were left in the dark by 5 a.m. local time as the storm's aftermath continued to be felt.
San Francisco experienced record-breaking rainfall with 2.53 inches falling in a single day, surpassing a milestone that stood since 1887. Winds reached speeds of 50 mph in the area, while a staggering 126-mph wind gust was recorded at Palisades Tahoe Ski Area near Lake Tahoe. The National Weather Service in San Diego issued high-wind warnings as mudslides and flash floods swept through the region on Thursday night.
In Oxnard, high winds tore through a mobile home community, damaging at least 12 homes. Alongside these disruptions, Mammoth Mountain received over 4.5 feet of fresh snow, transforming this popular skiing destination into a winter wonderland. The atmospheric river carried several feet of snow to the highlands along California's eastern edge, prompting avalanche warnings for the central Sierra Nevada mountains.
"Avoid areas with mudflows, debris flows, or high water until deemed safe by local authorities or public officials." – Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Crews began their arduous task of clearing roads across Southern California on Friday as the storm's fury began to subside. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced the closure of all public schools in Malibu due to road closures and mud flow concerns. In Los Angeles, over 12,600 utility customers faced power outages as the city bore the brunt of the storm.
"Despite the storm tapering off, widespread human-triggered avalanche activity remains very likely due to old weak snow below the storm snow and continued blowing snow," – Sierra Avalanche Center
"Large avalanches could happen on exposed slopes near and above treeline or in sheltered below treeline terrain, which people often consider safe. Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended," – Sierra Avalanche Center
Forecasters warned that more severe weather could be on the horizon as the atmospheric conditions remain volatile. The climatologist Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center emphasized that while recent rain and snow have provided some relief to drought-stricken areas, this is not enough to offset the dry conditions that persisted at the beginning of the current water year.
"A more active pattern will start to ease/improve the drought intensity, but there is ground to be made up," – climatologist Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center
"Luckily for places like California, the last few winters have been quite wet and so water storage and availability are not in bad shape right now." – climatologist Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center
"The rain/snow that is being recorded recently has helped, but a couple of storms do not offset how dry it was at the beginning of the current water year that started on Oct. 1 (especially in southern California and into the Southwest)," – climatologist Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center
"A wetter pattern will be needed to see it improve" significantly – climatologist Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center
Amidst these challenges, a 93-mph wind gust was recorded at Joaquin Ridge in Fresno County, further demonstrating the storm's intensity. As clean-up efforts continue, authorities urge residents to exercise caution and stay informed about potential hazards.
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