Avalanche in Mono, California

An avalanche at Mammoth Mountain occurred at approximately 1015PST on 3 March during a avalanche hazard mitigation search performed by the area ski patrol. The snow slid down down a steep run and funneled into a narrow chute named Upper Dry Creek before coming to a stop a the base of a chairlift. Six Mammoth Mountain employees at the lift were partially caught but freed themselves quickly, suffering only minor injuries. Source: Los Angeles Times.

A strong upper level low over the northeast Pacific on February 28th moved southeast, reaching southern Oregon/northern California on the 1st of March. This system brought high winds and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada through the 3rd. Several school and business closures occurred due to the heavy snowfall.