Surprise! Sierra Nevada Gets a Taste of Winter in August

Oh, the irony! While the rest of us were sweating in our tank tops, the Sierra Nevada mountains in California decided to throw a snow party this weekend. Yes, you read that right—snow in August. Thanks a lot, Mother Nature.

The middle and higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada were graced with snowfall from Friday night into Saturday, according to Elizabeth Danco, a meteorologist with AccuWeather. She emailed USA TODAY with the bizarre news. Portions of Highway 89, which runs through Lassen Volcanic National Park, were closed because of the snow. I guess even volcanoes need a little frosting sometimes.

The National Weather Service estimates about 3 inches of snow fell around the area. But don't worry, the west slope of the Sierra Nevada will see a high of 58 to 73 degrees at higher elevations and 71 to 81 degrees at lower elevations on Sunday. Typical California, always trying to confuse us with its weather mood swings.

Deputy Captures Unusual Snowfall on Video

"While it’s rare to see snow this time of year, it’s a reminder of the unpredictable nature of our beautiful Sierra Nevada," stated a post on Madera County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page on Saturday.

A deputy actually took a video of the snow in Eastern Madera County, just 33 miles north of Fresno, California. The video was posted on the sheriff's office's Facebook page, because who doesn't love a good snow day video?

The sheriff's office also had the audacity to ask anyone planning to drive through or visit the area of Minaret Vista to be careful and "be prepared for the chilly weather." Thanks for the heads up, but couldn't they have just ordered some winter jackets for all of us, too?

Why the Snow in August?

Blame it on a cold system from the Gulf of Alaska that brought the chilly weather to the West Coast, reports ABC 10.

First, Washington state's Mount Rainier received snow, and then California got its own dusting on Saturday. Climate change hitting differently these days, huh?

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter , Instagram and TikTok : @juliamariegz