Over the weekend, California experienced a formidable blizzard that impacted the Sierra Nevada mountain range. A blizzard, characterized by dry, powdery snow and fierce winds, can even include lightning. During its most extreme moments, this California blizzard delivered an astonishing 152mm (6 inches) of snow per hour and gusts reaching 190mph (306km/h). The sheer force of nature left a powerful mark on the region.
At 6 am local time on Saturday, the Mammoth Mountain ski area was blanketed with an impressive 0.6 meters (approximately 2 feet) of snow, compelling them to close for safety reasons. The National Weather Service deemed this event life-threatening.
A dangerous winter storm is slamming Northern California with rare blizzard conditions and fierce winds as it threatens to unload up to 10 feet of snow in the mountains and snarl travel. https://t.co/lXjorIrb6I
— KRDO13 (@KRDO_13) March 2, 2024
As the night progressed, the snowfall persisted, accumulating a staggering 3.7 meters in the highest reaches of the mountain range by Sunday morning. The sheer force of nature transformed the landscape, leaving a wintry wonderland in its wake.
Extreme avalanche warnings reverberated across the greater Tahoe region, urging people to seek shelter indoors until the danger subsided. While conditions appear more stable at the beginning of this week, Wednesday still carries the risk of additional snowfall. It’s a delicate balance between awe-inspiring natural forces and the need for safety.
In recent days, northern India faced substantial snowfall and rainfall. In Himachal Pradesh, over 500mm of snow was recorded early last week, resulting in the closure of 350 roads, including four national highways.
The heavy snowfall disrupted power supply to many areas, prompting authorities to advise people to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary due to avalanche risks.
At lower elevations, intense rainfall wreaked havoc on travel, with over 80mm (millimeters) of precipitation recorded in the town of Manali. Other regions in the state also experienced significant rainfall, measuring approximately 30mm.
Authorities responded by issuing a red warning for thunderstorms on Saturday. The delicate balance between the beauty of nature’s forces and the need for safety continues to shape our lives.
Thunderstorms are also expected to affect the United Arab Emirates from Monday night until Tuesday afternoon, bringing hourly rainfall totals of about 10-15mm alongside hail and lightning. The strong winds that will accompany these storms will blow sand and dust, in turn reducing visibility and creating rough conditions at sea.
Later this week, temperatures in the Persian Gulf region are expected to plummet to 10°C (50°F) below the seasonal average. This cooling trend will impact countries including Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), southern Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
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