California is under ice due to an unusual snowstorm

Snowfall could have “severe and life-threatening” consequences on roads in Southern California, which is experiencing one of its worst winter storms in decades.

By Le Figaro with AFP

published On 02/24/2023 at 10:30 PM.to update On 02/24/2023 at 22:41

It snowed heavily on Friday in the south California, the consequences of a rare snow storm around Los Angeles, and heavy rains that threaten other areas with floods. Famous for its sunshine and palm trees, the area experiences its worst winter storms in decades. Some major highways have been closed due to sleet and snow, such as parts of the highway connecting Mexico, the United States and Canada, with no immediate prospect of reopening them. Snowfall may have consequences ‘Serious and possibly fatal’ On the roads in Southern California, the US Weather Service (NWS) has warned.

series of storms

In the mountains, where the wind can blow strongly, snowflakes should be abundant. Snow and winds have already overpowered power lines, leaving 118,000 California homes without electricity, according to the Poweroutage website. up the valleys “who are not accustomed to receiving snow” They can cover themselves with a white coat, according to the NWS. Illustrating the unusual nature of this blizzard, local weather presenters, who generally announce day-by-day sunshine, found themselves facing the camera on Friday with knee-deep snow. On social networks, everyone went out there with their photos of a park covered in snow… a sight so rare that the weather service split a tutorial.

“I wonder what freezing rain is falling from the sky in your area (if you’re in the mountains)?”, he tweeted to Los Angeles NWS, pairing his post with a graphic to distinguish snow pellets from hail. The agency explained that the first, soft and moist, is made of chips, while the second, more solid, is made of ice. While not everyone will find themselves under the snow, Californians who live at lower elevations may experience precipitation, which poses a risk of floods and mudslides. A flood watch system is in place for parts of Los Angeles County, near Ventura, and Santa Barbara County on the Pacific coast.

Also read – An American blizzard turns houses into ice sculptures

The state has already been hit by a series of deadly storms from late December to mid-January. This wintry weather isn’t unique to California: It’s still in the American West, but further north, roads were closed in Wyoming, and Oregon was seeing record snowfall. Portland thus experienced the second snowiest day in its history, with more than 27 centimeters of precipitation, according to the local weather service. What do we put chaos in the air. More than 340 domestic flights, to or from the United States, were canceled Friday afternoon, and more than 4,000 were delayed. While it is difficult to establish a direct link between this storm and climate change, scientists regularly explain that warming increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.