Rare Snow And Century-Old Cold Records Fall In California; Cold Antarctica; + Fierce Polar Air Mass Grips South America

In Reno, a high of just 57F (13.9C) was observed, which made for the coldest August day in record books dating back to 1893.

Rare Snow And Century-Old Cold Records Fall In California

California's Sierra Nevada Mountains experienced rare August snowfall and record low temperatures this past weekend. A "winter-like cold front" is how the NWS described it, one that barreled in from the Pacific.

Temperatures across the state plummeted, setting new records.

In Reno, August 24 struggled to a high of just 57F (13.9C) which made for the coldest August day in books dating back to 1893.

South Lake and Lovelock, likewise, were among the locales to also setting new historic benchmarks:

Other locations, including Mammoth and Truckee, braced for freezing lows, with the hard freezes expected to last for days.

The associated airmass proved highly unusual, particularly at higher altitudes. At the 500mb level (≈18,000 feet asl), temperature readings were among the coldest ever recorded in August (since at least the late-1970s):

The effects of the cold front were felt beyond California and all.