Snow in June dots slopes
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Sleds and skis in June?
A rare winter-like storm brought more snow to the Sierra Nevada on Monday, giving skiers the opportunity to enjoy the slopes as summer gets underway.
At Squaw Valley, the storm dropped four inches of snow at the upper elevations and two inches at the base, delighting skiers and snowboarders who will be on the slopes past the Fourth of July for a first time in history.
“It’s definitely unique,” Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows resort spokesman Sam Kieckhefer said. “We are seeing bathing suits and costumes on the slopes. The skiing has definitely been extremely festive.”
The plan is to open the slopes every summer Saturday as long as the snow holds out, he said. “We anticipate this could last through July and even into August,” Kieckhefer said.
The wicked winter that socked California is also keeping Mammoth Mountain ski resort open into August.
Monday’s snow was helping that effort.
About an inch of snow was recorded on Mammoth Mountain itself between Sunday and Monday morning, while two locations in Kingvale logged 5 and 6 inches of snow, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Kochasic said.
Snow in June is rare but not unheard of, Kochasic said.
“I’m seeing a lot of zeros here in (past) climate records for June,” he said. “It definitely doesn’t happen every year. It’s infrequent.”