Californians Trapped Under Up to 8 Feet of Snow

Posted: March 7, 2023 9:45 am

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Heavy snow that blasted Southern California over a week ago has left many residents still stranded in their homes. Some parts of the state have seen over 8 feet of snow thanks to back-to-back winter storms.

Crews Mobilized to Provide Assistance to Californians Trapped Under Heavy Feet of Snow

Rescue crews spent the past weekend trying to get supplies to stranded residents trapped by a heavy feet of snow in San Bernardino County. Although the higher terrains of this county are used to seeing significant snowfall, the duo of winter storms and the intensity of the snowfall was too much to handle for some areas. Walls of snow rose up from the ground and buried homes and blocked crews from reaching stranded residents.

The California National Guard was forced to ferry supplies and materials to those in need. This agency was joined by firefighters, CalTrans employees, and other rescue crews to assist residents who wanted to leave the mountain region of San Bernardino County.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), there is over 8 feet of snow on the ground just to north of Lake Arrowhead. Located in unincorporated San Bernardino County, Lake Arrowhead is about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The community continues to deal with power outages. As of Monday afternoon, there were over 1,200 customers in the dark in San Bernardino County.

In addition to dealing with impassable roadways complicating delivery services, damage to a grocery store due to a collapsed roof has also impacted the food supply in the region. In response to the disaster, local officials have opened food distribution sites in the towns of Blue Jay, Running Springs, and Wrightwood.

The nearby community of Crestline recorded 16 inches of snow at the end of February, followed by another foot of accumulation on March 1. The town of Running Springs is currently measuring snowfall amounts of 12.5 feet.

State of Emergency Declared for 13 Counties

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for 13 counties because of the weather conditions. This declaration freed up crews from CAL FIRE to help to remove snow from roofs and clear roads.

The crews were able to reach eight trapped residents on Sunday, shuttling them to a grocery store where they were then taken to a local Red Cross shelter. The CAL FIRE crews are also working to deliver meals to residents in need.

More Moisture in the Forecast for California

Unfortunately for the storm weary region, another system is currently taking shape over the Pacific Ocean. This system is set to impact the state of California beginning late Thursday and lasting through Saturday. The potent weather maker is forecast to bring a number of impacts to the Golden State, including torrential rainfall, mountain snow, and mudslides. Gusty winds are also on tap for the state in the coming days.

A deep plume of subtropical moisture will fuel this storm system, ushering in more snow for the higher terrains of the state. The good news is that the upcoming storm system is predicted to bring a higher amount of moisture to the northern and central portions of the state rather than the southern tier. This trajectory will allow the communities in San Bernardino to continue the ongoing cleanup effort.

The long-range forecast is calling for yet another moisture-rich storm to roll into the state next week. This system will track farther to the south, putting Southern California back in play as a potential impact zone.

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