The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an unusual warning for Californians in late-August… snow is in the forecast! An unseasonable cold front is expected to move through the Sierra on Friday, August 23rd, 2024. According to records, it’s the first time snow has been forecasted in California in August in over 20 years.
The NWS office in Sacramento, California is predicting an “uncommon” storm track for this time of year that is expected to bring widespread rain, hail, and gusty winds for all elevations below the snow line.
Snow is expected to fall between 7,500 feet and 9,000 feet of elevation from Thursday night through Friday night with an emphasis on peaks north of I-80, but accumulations will occur further south. The NWS office in Hanford, California published the map below to show the probability of snow accumulation greater than .1 inches in the Eastern Sierra region. Looks like Mammoth Mountain might pick up a dusting!
NWS Hanford