This summer has been marked by heat waves across the nation, but on Saturday, California mountains experienced a rare trace amount of snow. Snowfall was measured in small amounts in and around Lake Tahoe, providing a brief respite from the relentless heat. The Sierra Nevada Mountains saw a light dusting of snow, creating a winter wonderland scene in the midst of a scorching summer. The day started off rainy, causing temporary closures on Interstate 80 due to wet roads. Despite the unusual weather, it is unlikely that the snow will stick around for long.
As the snowfall in the mountains provided a cool contrast to the hot summer temperatures, the annual Burning Man festival in Nevada faced weather conditions that prompted organizers to delay the opening of the event’s main gate. Attendees were urged to postpone their arrivals to avoid traffic congestion on the way to the Black Rock Desert venue. However, the gate was eventually opened later in the day. Meanwhile, the Palisades Tahoe snow resort in Olympic Valley also experienced falling snow, capturing the rare August event on cellphone videos.
The snowfall was made possible by a winter-like cold front moving in from the Pacific, bringing rain overnight before moving eastward. Temperatures plummeted, with the National Weather Service issuing warnings of a potential “hard freeze” that could damage vegetation and create icy road conditions. Sunday morning temperatures were expected to drop to the low 30s, well below normal for this time of year. A frost advisory was in effect for areas east of Reno, Nevada, as the region experienced unseasonably cold weather.
Amidst the snowy conditions in the mountains, other parts of the country continued to experience scorching temperatures. While a weather station in California recorded a low of 29 degrees, Medicine Lodge, Kansas posted the highest temperature in the contiguous United States at 115 degrees. Lubbock, Texas experienced 104-degree temperatures for the fourth consecutive day, setting records for high temperatures. A heat wave described as “relentless” was forecasted to move northeast, bringing triple-digit temperatures to parts of the Midwest, with heat alerts in effect for 23 million people from New Mexico to Minnesota.
The rare late-summer snowfall created stunning imagery and served as a stark contrast to the heat waves affecting other parts of the country. While parts of California experienced unseasonably cold temperatures, areas in the Midwest and South continued to swelter in record-breaking heat. The weather pattern was expected to persist, with high pressure systems bringing temperatures well above normal for the season. Despite the brief reprieve provided by the snowfall, the nation was still grappling with extreme weather conditions as summer drew to a close.
