Snowfall in the High Sierra Sets a Record for the Date

DONNER SUMMIT, Calif. —  It’s a winter wonderland in summer here in the High Sierra. Five inches of snow has fallen on the summit--a record for Sept. 2.

The last time snow fell here Labor Day weekend was 25 years ago. Not only is the snowfall rare, it’s also unusual for it to fall as low as it has--7,200 feet.

Heavenly ski resort on Lake Tahoe’s south shore reported 3 to 4 inches of snow on its upper slopes above 10,000 feet. Two inches fell on its Top of the Tram at 8,200 feet.

“Let’s hope that this is a sign of things to come this winter,” Heavenly spokeswoman Monica Bandows said.

Caltrans called out its snowplows Saturday to clear Interstate 80, and drivers were pulling over to the side of the road to take pictures and chuck snowballs at each other.

The snow is from a storm system that brought record rainfall to the Central Valley and low temperatures to much of Northern and Central California the last two days.

The system--which originated in the Gulf of Alaska--is typical of a storm that might move through the area in November.

“It’s not normal to get this kind of snow this early, but it’s not all that unusual either,” said National Weather Service spokesman Terry Ryan in Reno.

“You know what they say about the Sierra: You can see snow every month of the year. This is proof of that,” Ryan said.

In addition, heavy rain was reported in towns around Lake Tahoe.