Heavy snowfall and power outages continue even in the lowlands of Los Angeles on the 25th (local time) due to unusual storm snow and cold concentrated in the western coast of the United States and southern California.
The National Weather Service announced that the storm snow that struck southwest California this time was the strongest ever, and snow fell to lowlands at 305 meters above sea level as strong winds and rain turned to snow in some areas.
Residents of the suburb of Santa Clarita, north of the city of Los Angeles, are being startled by an unprecedented snowfall.
Snow storm warnings and flood warnings have been issued in the mountainous regions of the region, but fortunately, the Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that the strong winds would subside somewhat from the afternoon of the 25th.
About 120,000 homes in California are experiencing power outages after days of strong winds knocked down tall trees and utility poles, according to power-tracking site Power Outage. Highway 5, the largest north-south highway on the West Coast, is still closed to traffic from Tejon Pass to the mountains north of Los Angeles due to heavy snow and ice.
Forecaster Zach Taylor of the Korea Meteorological Administration said, “We have already accumulated between 60cm and 90cm of snow on the mountain peaks, and the snow will continue to fall in the future.” Up to 205 cm of snow has already fallen in the San Gabriel Mountain Resort area and 160 cm in the eastern part of Snow Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains.
On the 25th of the Los Angeles River, where the water flow was usually almost dry due to drought throughout the year, water flowed with a loud sound. LA Fire and Rescue mobilized helicopters to rescue homeless people living in flooded areas along the river, and two were hospitalized with hypothermia, fire spokesman Brian Humphreys said.
Some 350,000 households in eastern California and Michigan are living in darkness even on weekends due to power outages. The local power company hopes that it will be restored by the night of the 26th.
Consumer Energy spokesman Brian Wheeler said the 1.27cm ice weight on power lines in the area reached about the weight of a small piano, causing power outages to occur.
Residents are not just angry, they are putting on blankets and doing their best to ward off the cold, said M. Perry, environmental director for Michigan United, an environmental and anti-racism organization.
Residents said they plan to demand compensation from the power company for the purchase of temporary generators and damaged refrigerated vegetables.
The California State Weather Forecast Center predicted heavy snowfall over the weekend in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains, and issued an additional avalanche warning near Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada.
[로스앤젤레스= AP/뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.