Colossal cold front causes more snow, wildfire concerns in the West
Much of the nation continues to see the effects of a powerful cold front that moved through on Monday.
More snow fell across Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Many spots in the Rocky Mountains resemble a winter wonderland three months ahead of schedule.
Parts of Wyoming got up to 17” of snow with that cold front! This video from Grand Teton National Park. Video: @isaacspicz pic.twitter.com/gHuMi9oQJ8
— Ginger Zee (@Ginger_Zee) September 9, 2020
While snow most likely won't return to Michiana anytime soon, September snow has happened before! The earliest measurable snow has fallen in South Bend was September 25 back in 1994. Typically, our first snow occurs in early November.
GRX
While the areas that experienced snowfall got a break from the heat and some help with any wildfires, the West Coast continues to suffer through a historic fire season.
Oregon is in the midst of what officials are calling an unprecedented wildfire season. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of people have had to evacuate with almost 350 thousand acres burned statewide.
HAPPENING NOW: The damage from Alameda Fire is extensive in southern Oregon.
— KATU News (@KATUNews) September 9, 2020
This is what our crews are seeing right now: https://t.co/TAii8nvQtB https://t.co/JEpBdDF4c1
California has the most wildfires of any state right now, with 24 large fires burning as of early Wednesday. Many residents in the bay area woke up to red and orange skies filled with ash, as dry winds fueled two new fires across the state. Residents in Los Angeles are anxiously watching the fast growing Bobcat Fire nearby.
APOCALYPTIC SKIES: This is what the sky looked like in many parts Northern California as fires continue to burn throughout the state. ? Stay up-to-date with the latest fire coverage with an interactive tracker: https://t.co/Ry840yGA6u pic.twitter.com/pMMT5cVbiW
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) September 9, 2020
These fires have been fueled by dry wind from the very same cold front that helped cause the snow in the Rockies and the storms and temperature divide in Michiana.
Unfortunately for the West Coast, the hot, dry and windy conditions will largely persist into the weekend.