Winter Storm — Riverside County Eastern Deserts, California

2008-12-17 · Riverside County Eastern Deserts, California

Event narrative

Heavy snow was reported throughout much of the park. One ranger reported at least 5.0 inches had accumulated by Wednesday morning. Many roads in the area were closed due to the snow. The park was closed at 10 am due to more than a foot of snow that had accumulated in some sections of Joshua Tree NP.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system moved slowly through Southern California, producing very heavy snow. About a foot of snow fell in the higher elevations of Joshua Tree NP. Snow was also reported in many lower desert areas. Some roads were either closed or traffic was restricted.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 139166. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.