Heavy Snow in Apple and Yucca Valleys, California

This was the first heavy snow storm for late autumn 1998. The snow occurred in two episodes, the first beginning the late evening of Dec. 4, and the second beginning in the early morning hours of Dec. 5. Total snowfall at the 6000 foot elevation was 9 to 10 inches. In the passes 4 to 6 inches was reported. The high valleys to the north of the San Bernardino Mountains received one to three inches of snow. As a result 70 to 90 percent of the primary roads were closed, and nearly 100 percent of the secondary roads. Highway crews used 22 person days of overtime to clear the roads in San Bernardino county alone. Several traffic accidents in Hesperia were also the result of the snow.