Does It Snow In California?

California and Climate 

California is a US state located in the country's Pacific Region. With a population of approximately 40 million and an area of 163,696 square miles, California is the country's most populous and third largest state in terms of area. California is narrow but long, stretching from Oregon in the north to Arizona in the south. The length of the state means that it extends over diverse climatic regions. California's climate is influenced by its proximity to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, as well as its elevation and latitude. The coastal regions, the Central Valley, and the Sierra Nevada foothills experience a Mediterranean climate, with cold, wet winters and hot summers, while the southern half of the state is generally hot, with warm winters and scorching summers. The hot and dry summers make California susceptible to wildfires that burn vast acres of forests.

Snow in California

The mountainous regions of California, especially the Sierra Nevada, receive a significant amount of snow during the winter. The state's rainy season occurs between November and April, and in areas of higher elevation, this rain freezes due to lower temperatures and becomes snow due. The peaks of the Sierra Nevada can reach an elevation of more than 14,000 feet, and snow can accumulate to about 38 feet. Snow is less common west of the Sierra Nevada, except in the Coast Range and the Cascades. The eastern side of Sierra Nevada receives constant but light snow during the winter. The peak of Mount Whitney, which is the highest summit in the Sierra Nevada and the contiguous US in general, receives the greatest amount of snowfall in California. Additionally, the mountains around Lake Tahoe, which have a maximum elevation of about 10,000 feet, receive between 300 and 500 inches of snow annually. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area receives about 300 inches of snow each year and attracts skiers from across the country during the snow season.

Snow in Southern California

Southern California is dry and hot compared to the northern part of the state, but that does not prevent it from receiving snow. For example, Big Bear Lake receives about 67 inches of snow annually and attracts hundreds of snow sport enthusiasts. Although the Frazier Park community receives little snow, nearby Mount Pinos receives a significant amount, especially at higher elevations. The San Jacinto Mountains and the nearby town of Idyllwild receives about 60 inches of snow each year, but skiing and snowboarding are prohibited by local authorities. The southernmost part of California consists of the Mojave Desert that extends to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. It is a vast, dry and hot terrain that also includes Death Valley. Although it is the driest part of North America, the Pacific Northwest storms bring rain and small amounts of snow to parts of the desert during the winter when temperatures drop to about 25 °F during the day and and below 0 °F at night.